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Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2023 Explores Mobilizing Capital for Angola’s Infrastructure

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The first day of Energy Capital & Power’s AOG 2023 conference showcased Angola’s ambitious infrastructure plan to support new production capacity, power transmission, and energy development

LUANDA, Angola, September 13, 2023/APO Group/ — 

As demand for energy in Angola and the region continues to grow, the need for energy infrastructure such as refineries grows more evident, creating new investment opportunities for energy security. As such, the first day of the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2023 conference and exhibition featured a panel discussion exploring recent achievements in the expansion of refinery projects in Angola as well as prospects for further energy infrastructure investments.

Moderated by Pedro Letra, Assurance Partner at EY, the panel discussion, titled ‘Mobilizing Capital for Angola’s Infrastructure’, featured the participation of Marcus Weyll, Angola CEO, Gemcorp Capital; Gerson Santos, Executive Administrator, ANPG; Hélder Lisboa, Director of Strategy and Portfolio Management, Sonangol; Jacob Flewelling, Africa Investment Advisor, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; and Gwen Mwaba, Director and Global Head of Trade Finance, Afreximbank.

For the country to support new production capacity, power transmission infrastructure in Angola will have to be enhanced. Angola’s downstream sector requires significant investment in order to exploit the country’s full energy potential.

“We need to look at energy dependency. We need to look for new technologies. We need to look for local capabilities, and at the end, we need to have a foundation of these downstream manufacturing structures,” stated Lisboa, adding, “There is a need for aptitude, inspiration, and education in today’s energy sector.”

Meanwhile, Angola’s legislation and regulatory environment gives potential investors the opportunity to participate in the country’s energy market with contractual stability. It was noted during the panel session that the country’s regulatory frameworks are flexible and accommodate investor portfolios and backgrounds.

For the country to support new production capacity, power transmission infrastructure in Angola will have to be enhanced

“On the regulatory perspective, Angola is a very valuable asset,” stated Santos, adding, “Contractual stability is something Angola has; we don’t change the rule frequently. Also, Angola has the flexibility to adapt its regulations to the new trends of the market. We are ready to accommodate the Government’s interest and investor interest.”

Weyll shared insight into Gemcorp’s achievements in the Angolan downstream markets, stating that the company has a solid partnership with the Government. “We reached the financial close on the Cabinda project, which is very important to increase further investment. Partnership with Sonangol and the government was very important,” he said.

Meanwhile, the country has made significant strides in its application of Environmental, Social and Governance standards, ensuring that compliance is met with regards to the development of environmental impact assessment reports and ensuring that project’s pose little impact towards local communities and ecosystems.

“The ESG conversation is one that is very topical and very important, not just for investors, but also for lenders. In the case of Angola, it’s really important as investors start to build these energy-related infrastructure projects within ESG compliance standards. One of the ways in which compliance is measured is to have environmental assessment reports done before the projects are implemented,” stated Mwaba.

Meanwhile, for his part, Flewelling spoke of Angola’s noteworthy oil and gas industry and the country’s potential to mobilize capital for infrastructure development in its off- and onshore projects. He noted Angola’s favorable business environment and the potential for international service companies to participate in the country’s energy space.

As such, under the theme, ‘Energy Security, Decarbonization and Sustainable Development’, this year’s edition of AOG 2023 highlights Angola’s role as an emerging energy hub while promoting strategic partnerships and the country’s investment opportunities. Infrastructure development in the country is poised to result in major opportunities for foreign investors and strategic partners to participate in the transformation of Angola’s energy sector.

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

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

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

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