Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022 Explores Requirements to Maximize Angola’s Exploration Potential

Published

on

AOG

A panel discussion at AOG 2022 explored best practices being implemented by ANPG and its partners to boost upstream activities in Angola

LUANDA, Angola, December 1, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Under the theme, ‘The Next Wave of Exploration: ANPG, the New Rules of Engagement, and the Future of Angola’s Oil and Gas Reserves’, a panel discussion held during the 2022 edition of the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference (https://bit.ly/3UyBCpP) explored how the National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG), Angola’s oil and gas market regulator, is revitalizing upstream activities across Africa’s largest crude oil producer.

Moderated by Justin Michael Cochrane, Director, African Regional Research, S&P Global Commodity Insights, speakers included Melissa Bond, President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Angola and Chairperson for the ACEPA; Rui Rodrigues, Pre-Development and Exploration Assets Director, TotalEnergies E&P Angola; Jason Robinson, Director, Africa, TGS; Giovanni Aquilina, Exploration Director, Azule Energy; Chris Newton, Marine Business Development Manager, Shearwater; and Adriano Sebastião, Exploration Director at ANPG.

The panel opened with a keynote address delivered by Paulino Jerónimo, President of the ANPG who explained the organization’s new rules of engagement and how they can help attract new investors to make discoveries and address declining reserves and production. According to Jerónimo, the ANPG has its plan approved by the government which includes awarding 55 new concessions to investors in the coming years; assessing existing areas and interior basins to expand upstream investments; policy revamps; and the regulators increased focus on technology innovation to boost the industry.

Thereafter, the discussions kicked off with speakers highlighting stability, compliance and transparency, progressive fiscal and legislative terms, low operational costs for operators and tax stability as the key drivers for an optimal exploration market.

According to Sebastião, the ANPG is willing to revamp policies and fiscal terms in line with changing global trends, and that “We are working with government and all stakeholders to improve fiscal terms to satisfy investors whilst making sure we don’t destroy the profitability of the state. Our more comprehensive vision of optimizing production has been disclosed in presidential decrees and we have engaged in an extensive exploration strategy. If major firms do not show interest, we will go for medium and small sized companies, then we will have a wide range of firms present in the market. We want to have a direct, open and transparent and case by case conversations and partnerships which will lead to massive discoveries.”

We are working with government and all stakeholders to improve fiscal terms to satisfy investors whilst making sure we don’t destroy the profitability of the state

Meanwhile, Africa has witnessed a decline in exploration in the past years, yet huge discoveries have also been made. According to Cochrane, the potential for frontier exploration in Angola will revive the exploration market and unlock the massive reserves required to boost production.

According to Robinson, to boost investment in exploration, “Firstly, you need stability. You need to have a stable environment to do business and Angola ticks that box. Secondly is compliance and transparency. Along with that is negotiable terms and Angola also ticks that box. You have a well-developed exploration system as well as frontier areas.” Commenting on ExxonMobil’s exploration plans in Angola’s frontier basins, Bond stated that, “We are very excited about exploration prospects in the Namibe basin, which demonstrates our willingness to continue to invest in Angola. The Namibe basin is a frontier and deepwater basin, and we are working with the ANPG to make it very attractive. We have to compete with liquefied natural gas, the energy transition and low carbon solutions. ExxonMobil is competing for capital for all of these projects but we are confident that we will be successful.”

Speaking about TotalEnergies’ interest in ultra-deepwater projects in Angola, Rodrigues stated that, “The technologies we have deployed have shown us that it is possible to drill ultra-deepwater. Today, we continue doing research and working with the ANPG to understand more.”

The panel also provided an opportunity for Newton to showcase the various technologies available to address ultra-deepwater and complex exploration campaigns.

Commenting on the role of digitalization in maximizing exploration campaigns, Aquilina gave reference to Azule Energy’s exploration success in Block 15/06, stating that, “We have done fantastic work on Block 15/06. Since 2018 we have made six discoveries so our rate of success is more than 80% on the block in terms of infrastructure-led exploration. This comes with two pillars: the knowledge of the people and support by the expertise in that water; and the data. We are in the process of digitalization which is important for us.”

With regards to the potential for Angola to decarbonize oil operations, Bond added that, “ExxonMobil has a target to achieve net-zero by 2050. We have worked hard to reduce emissions in the past decades and reduced flaring in Block 15. Going forward, it is going to be tough because we are competing with global targets. However, we are looking at exploring new technologies that will enable us to boost our environmental performance.”

Aquilina reiterated that, “Decarbonization is a fact, it is real. We have six FPSOs and we have one that is net zero and everything electric. That is the start and we will decarbonize Block 16. Our vision is to continue decarbonizing with FPSOs that are clean and do not emit any flaring. Angola continues to be competitive because both the agency and the partners are showing solidarity in decarbonization and we will continue bringing new investments because we showed we can produce more with less emissions.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Energy

Venezuela Energy Week Confirms 19 August Date for Houston Industry Showcase

Published

on

Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August, convening U.S. energy leaders ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The organizers of Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) have confirmed that the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August 2026 at The Post Oak Hotel. Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the event will bring together U.S. energy companies, investors and policymakers to explore commercial opportunities ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas in February.

The showcase will feature Minister of Hydrocarbons Paula Henao as a keynote speaker, providing an update on Venezuela’s energy priorities, investment agenda and opportunities for international partnership. Her participation underscores the country’s commitment to strengthening engagement with global industry as it seeks to expand production and unlock new upstream investment.

Bringing together exploration and production companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers, engineering firms, technology companies and financial institutions, the Houston Industry Showcase will examine opportunities across exploration, production optimization, infrastructure rehabilitation and field development.

As Venezuela works to increase oil and gas production, demand is expected to grow for the technical expertise of U.S. service providers in drilling, well intervention, completion services, production optimization, artificial lift, digital oilfield technologies and infrastructure rehabilitation. Houston-based industry leaders – including SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford and a broad network of EPC contractors, equipment manufacturers and specialized service companies – are well positioned to support the modernization of mature fields, improve operational efficiency and deliver the technologies and services needed for future upstream projects.

The Houston event follows a successful Industry Showcase in London, which brought together international investors, operators and energy service companies to explore Venezuela’s evolving investment landscape. Building on that momentum, the Houston edition will deepen engagement with the U.S. energy industry and strengthen commercial dialogue ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027.

Venezuela Energy Week – the country’s largest energy investment platform to date – has been confirmed for 22–25 February 2027 in Caracas. Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the event will bring together government leaders, investors and industry stakeholders from across the global energy value chain.

To register for the Houston Industry Showcase on August 19, visit https://apo-opa.co/4g0TncR. To learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the showcase or to secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery
Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4hkvteE).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Continue Reading

Business

Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) Secures New Patent for Smart Stabilization System from Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

Published

on

IsDBI

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) is pleased to announce that the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has granted a new patent for its innovative Smart Stabilization System.

 

The patent was granted on 10 July 2026 under Singapore Patent No. 10202250873B for the invention titled “A Computer Network Stabilization System and Method.” The patent application was filed on 1 September 2022 and was formally granted following a comprehensive review process.

This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms and advanced simulation models, the system is designed to anticipate supply and demand imbalances and implement programmable stabilization measures before they escalate into market disruptions.

Unlike traditional stabilization mechanisms that rely on capital reserves, buffer funds, or external interventions, the Smart Stabilization System introduces a next-generation framework for achieving autonomous market stabilization through proactive and programmed stabilization mechanisms. By incorporating distributed ledger technology and cryptographic trust mechanisms, the platform enhances transparency, trust, and operational resilience for digital asset and commodity markets.

The successful patent grant reflects IsDBI’s growing contribution to technological innovation and its commitment to developing knowledge-based solutions that address contemporary economic and development challenges.

Since filing the patent application back in 2022, the Institute has continued to advance the Smart Stabilization System through ongoing development and testing, aimed to expand its practical applications and support future capitalization opportunities. These advancements have positioned the system as a potentially transformative solution for enhancing stability and resilience in increasingly digital and interconnected economies.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI, said, “The grant of this patent by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore further strengthens the Institute’s position as a leader in developing innovative knowledge-based solutions that leverage modern technologies to address complex development challenges. This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

Continue Reading

Business

Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

Published

on

The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

Continue Reading

Trending