Volz returns to AEW as Washington’s engagement with African energy markets increasingly spans both hydrocarbons and electricity infrastructure. In April, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency brought energy decision-makers from the DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda to the U.S. to meet American companies working on transmission and distribution technologies, including AI-enabled grid systems. The program was designed to connect U.S. technology providers with prospective projects and procurement opportunities in African power markets.

Mozambique illustrates the scale that U.S. financing can bring to an African gas project. In March 2025, the U.S. Export-Import Bank approved a nearly $5 billion loan for TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG development, reviving a financing package for the long-delayed project. The original $4.7 billion commitment had been approved during the first Trump administration but required reapproval after construction was suspended in 2021. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil and its Area 4 partners awarded approximately $1.1 billion in pre-investment contracts for long-lead equipment and early construction activities at the Rovuma LNG project in August.

Development finance is another part of the equation. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s investment ceiling rose from $60 billion to $205 billion following its 2025 reauthorization, while the agency gained expanded authority covering international investments in strategic sectors including energy and critical minerals. The new authorization runs through 2031.

The DFC has also continued to approve new transactions in Africa in 2026. On September 16, the agency announced more than $8 billion in new investments globally, including projects supporting infrastructure and resources across Africa, as part of an effort to promote U.S. exports, energy security and American technology.

U.S. companies such as GE Vernova are active across African power markets, providing generation, transmission, grid and software technologies. The company says its technology is installed in more than 50 countries across the Middle East and Africa; in Nigeria alone, its equipment is installed across more than 40 sites, while its grid technology has also supported regional integration through the West African Power Pool.

Energy access is another emerging strand of Washington’s engagement. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright co-chaired the July 2026 high-level summit on clean cooking in Africa alongside Kenyan President William Ruto, Norway and the International Energy Agency. The meeting produced $900 million in new commitments, taking total commitments since the 2024 Africa Clean Cooking Summit to more than $3.1 billion. Wright described clean cooking as a major but often overlooked energy-access challenge.

Volz has previously argued that African countries should determine their own energy pathways while the United States looks for ways to partner with them. Speaking at AEW 2025, he said: “International governments should not stand in the way of how African nations determine their energy futures. We are eager to hear how best we can, from a U.S. perspective, partner with Africa.” He also pointed to $65 billion in existing U.S. private-sector investment in Africa and a $2.5 billion U.S. government pledge to support energy expansion.

That approach will have a substantial U.S. presence at AEW 2026. The current program confirms Volz alongside U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, United States Energy Association President and CEO Mark W. Menezes and DFC Managing Director and Regional Head of Africa Vibhuti Jain, among other U.S.-linked executives and policymakers. Jain will also participate in the dedicated U.S.-Africa Energy & Investment Forum on October 14, which will bring together U.S. and African companies, investors and policymakers to discuss capital, technology and commercial partnerships.

“The DFC is better resourced than it has ever been, making this an opportune moment for African operators to make their case. This conference is about making sure the capital and the projects actually find each other,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

For African energy markets, the expanding U.S. role reaches across project finance, LNG, upstream development, electricity infrastructure, grid technology and clean cooking. Volz’s participation at AEW 2026 comes as those relationships increasingly move from broad policy discussions toward individual projects, commercial partnerships and technology deployment across the continent.

Under the terms of the agreement, Glencore will provide $300 million in upfront financing to support NMC’s operations. In return, NMC will supply Glencore with 10 to 12 million tons of bauxite annually over a five-year period – representing a total volume of 50 to 60 million tons. Beyond securing a reliable international commercial channel for NMC, the structure provides essential liquidity to accelerate production and field development.

The agreement reflects a broader surge in capital inflows into Guinea’s mining and infrastructure sectors as the government advances its multi-billion-dollar Simandou economic diversification agenda. The national framework leverages mining investments as the foundational engine for broader, multi-sector economic development.

International financial institutions are also scaling up support for Guinea’s macroeconomic and structural transition. In August 2026, Guinea reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund for approximately $410 million to strengthen fiscal management, boost external buffers, improve governance, and channel mining revenues into sustainable development. Additionally, in June 2026, the World Bank Group approved three financing operations totaling $293 million under Guinea’s 2027–2033 Country Partnership Framework. This initiative aims to harness Simandou-driven growth to stimulate investment across agriculture, manufacturing, energy, and logistics.

Investment is also diversifying beyond traditional bauxite and iron ore assets. Resolute Mining – operator of the Syama mine in Mali and the Mako mine in Senegal, and developer of the Doropo project in Ivory Coast – recently committed to gold exploration in Guinea. The move opens up new development pathways across the country’s precious metals value chain.

Collectively, these developments underscore a dynamic evolution in Guinea’s capital-raising strategy, combining pre-financing offtake deals, infrastructure-linked investments, and multilateral facilities to unlock its vast resource base.

These evolving financing structures and investment opportunities will take center stage at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – organized by Energy Capital & Power – held in Cape Town from October 14–16. Daouda Diakite, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Mines and Geology of the Republic of Guinea, will deliver a keynote address detailing the country’s key sector milestones, emerging project pipelines, and future strategic outlook. Through targeted discussions and high-level engagements, AMW 2026 will offer global investors a direct view into Guinea’s rapidly expanding mining sector.

Under the theme Mining the Future: Unearthing Africa’s Full Mineral Value, AMW 2026 will bring together governments, investors, mining companies and international partners to advance investment across mineral exploration, production, processing and supporting infrastructure. The event offers a strategic international forum to foster engagement, strengthen mineral ties and advance development in Africa and across international markets.  Book you delegate passes here to attend, https://apo-opa.co/4ALyewQ

Minister Chuang brings extensive experience across South Sudan’s petroleum sector, having previously served as Minister of Petroleum as well as Director General, Undersecretary and Technical Advisor within the Ministry. His appointment comes as the country works to strengthen petroleum-sector management and attract international capital and technical expertise across its upstream industry.

Stepping into the role, Chuang has prioritized strengthening institutional cooperation, internal coordination and effective regulation within the Ministry of Petroleum. He has also emphasized addressing administrative and organizational challenges, improving accountability and strengthening coordination with the National Legislative Assembly as part of efforts to enhance oversight of South Sudan’s oil and gas sector.

The appointment comes ahead of the seventh edition of South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP), taking place November 24–25, 2026 in Juba. Held in official partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum, SSOP 2026 will take place under the theme Resource Renaissance – Energy-Fueled Growth for a New Generation, bringing together government, industry, investors and technology providers to advance cooperation across the country’s energy sector.

SSOP 2026 will feature high-level panel discussions, networking opportunities, project showcases and technical workshops focused on emerging opportunities across South Sudan’s oil and gas value chain.

Upstream investment remans a key priority. South Sudan currently has14 blocks open to investors – A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, B1, B4, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1 and E2 -, creating opportunities for international operators and investors to enter underexplored acreage.

Beyond exploration, the country is seeking investment in mature asset redevelopment and brownfield optimization as it works to increase recovery and production from existing fields. This creates opportunities for oilfield service companies and technology providers across drilling, enhanced oil recovery, field engineering and supporting infrastructure.

Against this backdrop, SSOP 2026 will provide a platform for the Ministry of Petroleum to engage international investors, operators, service companies and technology providers on the next phase of South Sudan’s petroleum-sector development.