Having assumed leadership of ExxonMobil Angola in late 2025, Unietis now oversees a portfolio entering a period of rapid execution. Under his leadership, ExxonMobil has shifted from primarily managing mature offshore assets toward delivering new production, extending field life and opening entirely new exploration provinces designed to support Angola’s ambition of sustaining crude output above one million barrels per day (bpd).

One of the company’s most significant recent milestones came in April 2026 when ExxonMobil awarded a major EPCI contract to Subsea7 for the Likembe Redevelopment 2.0 Project. The redevelopment will connect additional reservoirs back to existing Block 15 facilities through subsea tiebacks, illustrating the company’s increasing focus on infrastructure-led developments that shorten timelines while improving capital efficiency.

Alongside redevelopment activity, ExxonMobil continues to expand beyond its established producing assets. Earlier this year, the company partnered with TotalEnergies and Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels to secure exploration rights across multiple blocks in the Benguela and Namibe Basins, two frontier regions expected to underpin Angola’s next generation of offshore discoveries. Geological evaluation also continues following ExxonMobil’s first exploration drilling campaign in the Namibe Basin, while additional subsurface assessments are underway across the Free Areas of Blocks 17/06 and 32/21.

The operational momentum follows a series of major strategic decisions taken shortly after Unietis assumed leadership. ExxonMobil and its Block 15 partners reached a final investment decision last year to extend production from the Mondo and Saxi-Batuque fields. The investment followed the extension of Block 15’s production license through 2037, providing the fiscal certainty needed to unlock further redevelopment opportunities across one of Angola’s most productive offshore assets.

Beyond upstream developments, ExxonMobil continues investing across the wider offshore value chain. The company recently secured a long-term charter agreement with Bourbon Mobility for a new fleet of fuel-efficient crew transfer vessels scheduled to enter service in 2027, while specialized management programs are being deployed to safely manage naturally occurring radioactive material generated from mature offshore operations.

These initiatives form part of ExxonMobil’s broader investment program, centered on maximizing production from existing infrastructure while opening new offshore basins capable of sustaining the country’s production base well into the next decade.

As Angola advances policies designed to attract fresh upstream capital and accelerate offshore development, AOG 2026 – taking place in Luanda from September 9‒10, with a pre-conference day on September 8 – will provide a key forum for government leaders, operators and investors to discuss the sector’s next phase of growth.

Unietis’ participation underscores ExxonMobil’s long-term commitment to Angola and positions the company at the forefront of the country’s strategy to combine mature asset redevelopment, frontier exploration and sustained investment to secure its future as one of Africa’s premier oil producers.  ​

While much global trade conversation has focused recently on tariffs, the primary barrier to African trade lies in the technical, regulatory, financial, and logistical challenges of being able to export, often referred to as Non-Tariff Barriers.

These Non-Tariff Barriers – such as the measures and processes that allow African companies to show international offtakers that they are meeting critical safety and sanitary standards – currently add an estimated 15% to 30% to regional trade costs. UNECA suggests that eliminating these barriers alone could surge intra-African trade by 52%.”Compliance costs are often higher than the tariffs themselves including actual import duties,” notes UNCTAD, citing that technical measures now regulate two-thirds of global trade.

The 2026 Forum will focus on priority, collective actions to harmonise standards, looking at what is needed to reduce compliance costs, accelerate quality certification, and ensure diminishing rejections of African goods by the world’s most lucrative markets.

Commenting on the forum, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, TMA Board Chair and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia said: “The next phase of Africa’s trade growth will depend on African firms showing that their products are as good as those of anywhere in the world. Businesses are up for the challenge – what we need to do, is to help assess and certify their goods, in a way that does not create a burden. ATDF 2026 offers an important opportunity to focus on these issues with clarity, seriousness and a shared sense of purpose.”

H.E. Kassahun Gofe (PhD), Minister of Trade and Regional Integration of the federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia said: “Ethiopia is honoured to host the Africa Trade Development Forum 2026 at a time when the continent is placing renewed focus on the quality of its trade systems and the competitiveness of its markets. Standards and quality infrastructure are central to industrial growth, market confidence and the ability of African producers to compete within the continent and beyond. We look forward to welcoming leaders and institutions to Addis Ababa for a practical and forward-looking discussion on the reforms needed to strengthen trade in measurable terms.”

David Beer, Chief Executive Officer of TMA, added: “Africa’s trade ambitions will be realised by building the systems that allow African firms to compete better with the rest of the world, by showing their goods comply with the highest standards. Quality systems underpin that, as they build the trust that markets demand. ATDF 2026 will see leaders focus on how to help businesses make that happen.”

Against this backdrop, African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 — The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – will bring together the companies leading these investments to discuss the projects, partnerships and financing shaping Africa’s next generation of mining development. Taking place in Cape Town from October 14–16, the event will feature producers advancing major projects across Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and South Africa.

Against this backdrop, African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 — The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – will bring together the companies leading these investments to discuss the projects, partnerships and financing shaping Africa’s next generation of mining development. Taking place in Cape Town from October 14–16, the event will feature producers advancing major projects across Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and South Africa.

Among the companies leading this momentum is KoBold Metals, which broke ground on its $2 billion Mingomba Copper Project in Zambia in May 2026 – one of the country’s largest new mining developments. Expected to produce 300,000 tons of copper annually once operational in the early 2030s, the project supports Zambia’s ambition of increasing national copper production to three million tons per year by 2031. Beyond mine development, the company is deploying artificial intelligence and advanced geological modelling to accelerate mineral discovery across the DRC and Burundi. At AMW 2026, Mfikeyi Makayi, CEO of KoBold Metals, will discuss how technology-driven exploration is reshaping mineral discovery and accelerating Africa’s next generation of mining projects.

Also contributing to Zambia’s expanding copper pipeline is Makor Resources, which is advancing exploration at the Muli and Kangili copper projects. As producers seek to replenish future supply through new discoveries, Brooke Bibeault, CEO of Makor Resources, will outline the company’s $30 million investment strategy and its contribution to strengthening Zambia’s position as Africa’s second-largest copper producer.

Elsewhere on the continent, Buenassa is supporting the DRC’s push to capture greater value from its mineral resources through domestic processing. Eddy Kioni, CEO of Buenassa, will showcase the company’s integrated mining and mineral processing strategy, including the development of a multi-metal processing facility in Lualaba Province. Currently in its feasibility stage, the refinery project will produce 30,000 tons of LME-grade copper cathode and 5,000 tons of cobalt contained (cobalt metal with optionality for sulphate) per annum, during phase 1. Later stages of the project will expand capacity to up to 120,000 tons of copper and 20,000 tons of cobalt contained (cobalt metal with optionality for sulphate) in subsequent phases.

In Ghana, Typhoon Greenfield Development is focused on strengthening the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. Kwaku Afrifa Nsiah-Asare, CEO of Typhoon Greenfield Development, will discuss best practices for formalizing artisanal mining, attracting private investment and increasing production in one of Africa’s leading gold-producing nations.

Meanwhile, Sean Meadon, Senior Geologist at South African producer Gold Ore, will highlight the company’s Turnbridge underground and New Kleinfontein opencast projects, which aim to support the revitalization of South Africa’s gold sector. With first production targeted in 2026, the projects align with broader efforts to expand domestic output and capitalize on sustained strong gold prices.

By bringing together producers, governments, investors and technology providers, AMW 2026 will explore the partnerships, financing and innovation required to translate Africa’s abundant mineral resources into long-term economic growth and industrial development.