CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 18, 2025/APO Group/ –South Africa faces a critical energy challenge: securing a stable power supply while transitioning to a low-carbon future. The African Energy Chamber’s (EnergyChamber.org/) State of African Energy 2025 Outlook Report provides a detailed analysis of this shift, highlighting the country’s continued reliance on coal, the slow pace of renewable energy integration and the urgent need for infrastructure investments to modernize the grid. These insights will set the stage for key discussions at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies, where industry leaders will examine how South Africa and other mature markets across the continent can balance energy security with decarbonization.

Coal remains the cornerstone of South Africa’s power generation, contributing over 80% to the energy mix. This heavy reliance has led to ongoing load-shedding – constraining industrial productivity, discouraging investment and limiting GDP growth to less than 1% annually over the past decade. Addressing this crisis requires urgent intervention through infrastructure investment, diversification of the energy mix and policy reforms to enhance grid stability and efficiency. This will be a key focus for stakeholders at AEW 2025, where discussions will center on accelerating the transition to a more resilient and diversified energy system, enhancing the role of renewables and gas-to-power solutions, and attracting critical investments to modernize the grid and reduce dependence on coal.

In response to the energy crisis, South Africa has embarked on integrating renewable energy sources. The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program has been instrumental, with over 7.2 GW of solar PV and 3.6 GW of onshore wind capacity installed by the end of 2023, collectively accounting for over 17% of the country’s total installed capacity. Gas-to-power projects have also emerged as a viable solution, with the government issuing requests for proposals for 2 GW of such projects in late 2024. Concurrently, battery energy storage systems are being developed, with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy launching bid rounds totaling over 1.7 GW/6.9 GWh of storage capacity.

South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan has drawn global interest, securing $8.5 billion in commitments from partners including France, Germany, the UK, the US and the EU. However, disbursement remains a challenge, with only $1.9 billion allocated to date – primarily for grid expansion and support for coal-mining communities. As the country navigates the complexities of a large-scale transition, key issues such as grid constraints, the integration of renewables and ensuring a stable, sustainable energy supply will be addressed at AEW 2025.

Taking place in Cape Town, AEW 2025: Invest in African Energies serves as the premier platform for South Africa and the broader African continent to tackle the critical energy challenges shaping the region’s future. The event will highlight strategies to integrate cleaner energy sources while maintaining grid stability and affordability, as well as emphasize modernization of grid infrastructure, addressing capacity constraints and enhancing transmission networks to support a diversified energy mix.

Beyond technical solutions, securing large-scale investments will be a key priority, as Africa seeks to attract capital for sustainable energy projects that ensure both energy security and environmental responsibility. By convening industry leaders, policymakers, financiers and innovators, AEW 2025 will drive forward collaborative solutions, policy reforms and strategic partnerships essential for unlocking Africa’s full energy potential and fostering long-term economic growth.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 17, 2025/APO Group/ –Equatorial Guinea has officially relaunched its open-door licensing process for 2025, setting the stage for a major licensing round at the end of 2025 or early 2026. This move marks a strategic shift toward prioritizing licensing and exploration, with a strong focus on regulatory competitiveness, tax incentives and data transparency. These developments will take center stage at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies, taking place in Cape Town on September 29-October 3, where the “Invest in African Energies: Equatorial Guinea” session will provide a platform for global investors to engage with the country’s evolving energy strategy.

Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Antonio Oburu Ondo, outlined the country’s comprehensive exploration strategy at CERAWeek in Houston last week, aimed at boosting hydrocarbon production, attracting investment, addressing declining output and enhancing competitiveness. Fiscal reforms include reducing corporate tax from 35% to 25%, dividends tax from 25% to 10%, and withholding tax from 6.25% to 3% for residents (or from 15% to 10% for non-residents). The country’s open-door policy enables international oil and gas companies to apply for licenses through a streamlined process involving direct negotiation with the state.

The government’s aggressive promotion policy has already yielded results, with seven new production-sharing contracts awarded in record time. These include blocks EG-31 and EG-18 to Africa Oil Corp, blocks EG-11 and EG-06 to Chevron, blocks EG-23 and EG-01 to Panoro Energy and Block EG-08 to Antler Global. The next licensing round will be underpinned by a new competitive tax law, a strengthened hydrocarbons law and the launch of a multi-client 3D seismic acquisition initiative – all aimed at boosting investor confidence and accelerating exploration.

The new multi-client 3D seismic acquisition and reprocessing of legacy data is set to launch by year-end, ensuring that investors have access to high-quality geological insights. This initiative will be highlighted at AEW 2025, where industry leaders will explore how enhanced data-sharing and transparency can drive exploration success across Africa. These efforts directly support an intensified focus on drilling, with all the country’s operators having either executed in-field or exploration drilling campaigns in 2024 or planning to do so between 2025 and 2027, according to Minister Oburu Ondo.

Equatorial Guinea’s Gas Mega Hub initiative remains a key pillar of its energy strategy, with ongoing collaborations with Cameroon on the Yoyo-Yolanda fields and Nigeria on the Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project to monetize and process gas at the onshore Punta Europa facilities. The country is advancing multi-phase initiatives including the Alen Gas Monetization Project (580 BCF), Alba Tail Gas Monetization Project (825 BCF) and Aseng Gas Monetization Project (~1 TCF) to strengthen its position as a regional gas powerhouse. The government is also making strides in climate initiatives, working to reposition Equatorial Guinea as a leader in gas and transitional energy while establishing carbon credit ventures through international collaborations.

As Africa works to attract investment to transform its energy sector, Equatorial Guinea’s strategic reforms provide a model for other nations, demonstrating how regulatory competitiveness, investor-friendly policies and a robust licensing framework can drive long-term success.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), March 17, 2025/APO Group/ –The highly anticipated Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 is just one week away. Taking place in Brazzaville from March 24-26, the forum will be held under the theme, Securing Growth and Investment in a New Era. With a comprehensive agenda and an impressive roster of high-level speakers, CEIF 2025 brings together top energy executives, investors and policymakers for three days of robust discussions, deal-signings and exhibitions.

Under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and the Republic of Congo’s national oil company Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), CEIF 2025 highlights the country’s expanding influence in Africa’s energy landscape. The forum will bring together a diverse range of participants, including SNPC subsidiaries, international oil companies, Congolese and foreign banks, energy organizations and technology providers.

The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

The conference will kick off with technical sessions, focused on Congo’s oil and gas market, highlighting the latest advancements in the country’s efforts to expand production, revitalize mature fields and capitalize on its immense reserves. The technical sessions will cover monetizing stranded gas, infrastructure development and opportunities to position Congo as a regional hub.

The CEIF 2025 program will feature a variety of dedicated panel sessions, technical workshops and presentations designed to provide deep insights into the latest developments and opportunities across the entire energy value chain. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge about ongoing and upcoming projects that contribute to Congo’s energy goals, as well as broader trends affecting the sector.

One of the highlights of CEIF 2025 will be the official unveiling of Congo’s new Gas Master Plan, which aims to consolidate the country’s existing gas assets while attracting new investments into the sector. Furthermore, a new Gas Code will be unveiled at CEIF 2025 to establish a supportive legal and regulatory framework for gas exploration and production investments.

As part of an ambition to double oil production to 500,000 barrels per day by 2027, CEIF 2025 will feature the launch of the country’s new oil and gas licensing round. The licensing round will offer onshore, offshore and marginal acreage to potential investors and developers. As such, CEIF 2025 offers a platform for delegates to connect with leading figures in Congo’s energy space. Deal signings will be a focal point of the forum, providing an environment where key decision-makers can engage to forge new business relationships.

High-level speakers at this monumental forum include Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Congo’s Minister of Hydrocarbons; Maixent Raoul Ominga, Director General of the SNPC; Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization; and Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, among many others. As the premier gathering for energy players in Africa, CEIF 2025 represents the ideal platform to discuss, showcase and maximize growth and partnership investment opportunities across Congo and Central Africa.

“With one week out, we are positive that CEIF 2025 will cement its position as a pivotal platform for fostering investment, exploring energy opportunities and driving growth in Congo’s dynamic energy sector. As the inaugural edition, this premier event is sure to provide attendees with invaluable knowledge and insights into the region’s robust and burgeoning industry,” states Sandra Jeque, Events and Project Director at Energy Capital & Power.