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#BlackExcellence: Strategies for Capital Access in the Global Economy

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GBIS 2024 will unite Black businesses and global investors, and showcase investment opportunities and potential returns across various business cases within the global Black Community

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, January 29, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The global economy is expanding, providing an opportunity for Black-owned businesses to succeed. Various mechanisms have been adopted to facilitate access to the necessary capital required by these businesses to align with the dynamic growth of various economic sectors.

Global Black Impact Summit

The Global Black Impact Summit (GBIS) 2024 – scheduled for February 27 in Dubai – plays a pivotal role in assisting Black-owned businesses to secure capital. Organized by the Black Impact Foundation, a Dutch-based global organization empowering the Black Community and advocating for inclusivity on the global stage, GBIS 2024 will take place under the theme “Black Excellence: Unleashing the Unexplored Potential for Global Unity.” The movement serves as a premier platform for Black-owned businesses, startups, and projects to engage with potential global investors, fostering discussions and facilitating the signing of investment deals. Through a series of panel discussions, investment-focused exclusive networking sessions, and project exhibitions, GBIS 2024 will shed light on best practices and showcase diverse financial platforms dedicated to empowering Black-owned businesses.

Online Crowdfunding Platforms

Crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe have become instrumental for Black-owned projects to showcase their innovative business ideas and garner support from a diverse audience. Beyond serving as a funding source, these platforms act as a means to validate market interest in the products or services offered by Black entrepreneurs. Research conducted by the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership reveals a significant evolution in funding dynamics for Black-owned businesses on Kickstarter. Businesses leveraging online crowdfunding platforms are now nearly four times more successful in securing funding.

GBIS 2024 will shed light on best practices and showcase diverse financial platforms dedicated to empowering Black-owned businesses

Venture Capital Firms

Driven by a push to ensure inclusivity and gender diversity across the globe, venture capital firms have increased focus on funding Black-owned businesses. In the U.S. alone, venture capital directed to Black businesses reached record high in 2020 and continues to increase with firms such as Balmer Group – owned by Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO – releasing $400 million in investment to support Black entrepreneurs in 2022. Across Europe, platforms like the UK’s Black Seed Ventures are reshaping capital access for Black-owned businesses. Since its inception in 2021, the seed fund has secured over £5 million in funding to support 30 Black-led startups within the healthcare, deeptech, and artificial intelligence sectors by 2026. Google’s Startups Black Founders Fund allocated $100 million in 2022 to support the Black startup community across Africa, Europe, Brazil, and the U.S., building on the $30 million already directed towards this community since 2020.

Minority-Owned Business Grants

Grants offered by government agencies, non-profit organizations and various corporations to empower minority entrepreneurs have evolved into not only a crucial source of financial assistance for Black-owned businesses but also a significant financial catalyst, propelling the expansion of economies. South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) in collaboration with other government agencies such as the Industrial Development Corporation and the National Empowerment Fund, allocated R32 billion in grants to nearly 800 Black industrialists between 2016 and 2020. These investments have fostered socioeconomic development and shaped job creation with up to 120,000 jobs created and preserved. As the DTIC amplifies investments in Black-owned businesses to reduce reliance on imports by 2026, government grants emerge as a significant opportunity for Black entrepreneurs to access capital.

Banks

Banks play a pivotal role in empowering Black-owned businesses by facilitating access to capital. In the UK, Lloyds Bank has collaborated with the Black Business Network and FounderVine to offer financial support in the form of loans and grants to Black entrepreneurs. Additionally, in the U.S., online banking platform Guava is providing specialized services to enable Black-owned businesses to secure essential capital.

Register here (www.GlobalBlackImpact.com) for GBIS 2024 and gain first-hand insight into the various strategies to secure capital for your business.

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

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Genesis Energy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to Discuss Energy Expansion at Congo Energy & Investment Forum

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Genesis Energy

Akinwole Omoboriowo II will discuss Genesis Energy’s plan to deliver 10.5 GW of power across Africa, highlighting how Nigeria’s power sector experience can inform the development of the Republic of Congo’s domestic energy grid and gas export potential

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, January 20, 2025/APO Group/ — 

Akinwole Omoboriowo II, CEO of Genesis Energy, will speak at the Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) in Brazzaville this March, where he will discuss the company’s plans to deliver 10.5 GW of power across Africa, with a focus on energy initiatives that align with the Republic of Congo’s energy development goals.

Genesis Energy is driving transformational power projects, including providing 334MW to the Port Harcourt Refinery in Nigeria and plans to produce 1 GW within the WAEMU region. In October 2024, Genesis and BPA Komani announced their strategic partnership to mobilize capital and facilitate critical infrastructure projects focused on renewable energy, particularly Battery Energy Storage Systems across Africa. Additionally, Genesis’ recent MOU with the U.S. Agency for International Development will mobilize $10 billion for green energy and renewable projects, supporting Africa’s transition to a sustainable energy future.

The inaugural Congo Economic and Investment Forum, set for March 25-26, 2025 in Brazzaville, 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.

During CEIF 2025, Omoboriowo will explore how Genesis’ successful energy infrastructure development projects in Africa, combined with private sector innovation, can guide the Republic of Congo in strengthening its energy security and achieving its decarbonization goals. By leveraging its expertise in clean energy and strategic partnerships, Genesis Energy is poised to play a key role in helping the Republic of Congo harness its energy potential and expand its regional energy influence.

The Republic of Congo’s renewable energy sector is in a phase of growth, with increasing interest in solar, hydro and wind energy projects. Battery energy storage capacities are also gaining traction as a vital component of the country’s energy infrastructure, helping to balance supply and demand. The government is focusing on diversifying its energy mix to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and enhance grid reliability. Looking ahead, the Congo aims to expand its renewable energy capacity and integrate storage solutions to meet growing domestic and regional energy needs while supporting environmental sustainability.

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

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Eni, TotalEnergies Announce New Exploration Projects in Libya

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National Oil Corporation

Eni is launching three exploration plays, TotalEnergies is expecting promising results from its recent onshore exploration project, and other developments were shared during an upstream IOC-led panel at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit

TRIPOLI, Libya, January 19, 2025/APO Group/ — 

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) and international energy companies TotalEnergies, Eni, OMV, Repsol and Nabors outlined key exploration milestones and strategies to advance oil and gas production in Libya at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit 2025 on January 18.

Among the key developments highlighted were TotalEnergies’ recent onshore exploration project and promising exploration opportunities in the Sirte and Murzuq basins.

“With 40% of Africa’s reserves, Libya remains largely untapped,” said Julien Pouget, Senior Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa at TotalEnergies. Pouget shared TotalEnergies’ plans for 2025, including the completion of an onshore exploration project and new exploration in the Waha and Sharara fields. “We expect results next week,” he added.

Luca Vignati, Upstream Director at Eni, echoed optimism for Libya’s potential and outlined the company’s ongoing investment initiatives in the country. “We are launching three exploration plays – shallow, deepwater and ultra-deep offshore. No other country offers such opportunities,” Vignati stated. He also highlighted the company’s investments in gas projects, including over $10 billion for the Greenstream gas pipeline and a CO2 capture and storage plant in Mellitah.

Repsol affirmed its commitment to advancing exploration in Libya, focusing on overcoming industry challenges and achieving significant production milestones.

We have 48 billion barrels of discovered but unexploited oil, with total potential estimated at 90 billion barrels, especially offshore

“Over the past decade, Libya has made remarkable efforts to fight natural field decline and encourage exploration,” said Francisco Gea, Executive Managing Director, Exploration & Production at Repsol. “We have reached 340,000 barrels per day. The two million target is within reach, and as international companies, we have the responsibility to bring capacity and technology.”

“Innovation is key to maximizing production and accelerating exploration. By deploying cutting-edge solutions, Nabors can enhance efficiency, reduce costs and ensure safer operations,” added Travis Purvis, Senior Vice President of Global Drilling Operations at Nabors.

Bashir Garea, Technical Advisor to the Chairman of the NOC, highlighted the country’s immense oil and gas potential. “We have 48 billion barrels of discovered but unexploited oil, with total potential estimated at 90 billion barrels, especially offshore,” he said. He also pointed to Libya’s sizable gas reserves, noting, “Libya has 122 trillion cubic feet of gas yet to be developed. To unlock this potential, we need more investors and new technology, particularly for brownfield revitalization.”

“Our strategy spans the entire value chain. Strengthening infrastructure is essential to maximizing production and efficiency,” said Hisham Najah, General Manager of the NOC’s Investment & Owners Committees Department.

NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and session moderator, underlined Libya as a prime destination for foreign investment: “Libya is at the cusp of a new energy era. The time for bold investments and strategic partnerships is now.”

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

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Libya’s Oil Minister: Brownfields, Local Investment Key to 2M Barrels Per Day (BPD) Production

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Libya’s Oil & Gas Minister outlined plans to boost production to 1.6 million bpd in 2025 and 2 million bpd long-term, with brownfield development and local investment at the core, during the Libya Energy & Economic Summit

TRIPOLI, Libya, January 19, 2025/APO Group/ — 

Libya is setting its sights on boosting oil production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) within the next two to three years, with brownfield development and local investment identified as critical drivers of this growth. Speaking at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) in Tripoli on Saturday, Minister of Oil and Gas Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadek outlined the country’s strategy to reach 1.6 million bpd by year-end and laid the groundwork for longer-term growth.

“There are massive opportunities here, massive fields that have been discovered, but a lot of fields have fallen between the cracks,” stated Minister Abdulsadek during the Ministerial Panel, Global Energy Alliance – Uniting for a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future. “We want to make sure local oil companies take part. We also want to leverage the upcoming licensing round to support our planned growth in the oil sector.”

The minister’s remarks were complemented by a strong call for international participation in Libya’s upcoming licensing round, signaling the government’s commitment to fostering collaboration and maximizing the potential of its energy sector.

Highlighting Libya’s vast natural gas potential – with reserves of 1.5 trillion cubic meters – Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, stressed the need for enhanced investment in gas projects. He pointed to ongoing initiatives like the $600 million El Sharara refinery as opportunities to stimulate economic diversification.

There are massive opportunities here, massive fields that have been discovered, but a lot of fields have fallen between the cracks

“Natural gas is available,” Hamel stated, adding, “It is the greenest of hydrocarbons and we see natural gas continuing to grow until 2050.”

The panel also tackled the global energy transition, emphasizing Africa’s unique challenges and the need for the continent to harness its resources to achieve energy security. Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), underscored the critical need for finance, technology and reliable markets to drive progress.

“At APPO, we have noted three specific challenges for the African continent. Finance, technology and reliable markets,” he stated, questioning whether Africa can continue to depend on external forces to develop its resources.

As one of Africa’s top oil producers, Libya holds an estimated 48 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. The country’s efforts to expand production, attract investment and drive innovation are central to the discussions at LEES 2025. Endorsed by the Ministry of Oil and Gas and National Oil Corporation, the summit has established itself as the leading platform for driving Libya’s energy transformation and exploring its impact on global markets.

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

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