LUANDA, Angola, July 22, 2026/APO Group/ –Global technology and data company Viridien is strengthening its presence in Angola through advanced seismic imaging, reprocessing and multi-client data programs designed to support the country’s next phase of exploration. The company has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Conference and Exhibition, taking place September 9-10 with a pre-conference day on September 8, as a Bronze Sponsor, highlighting the growing role of subsurface intelligence as operators evaluate new acreage and pursue higher-confidence drilling targets.

Angola is accelerating exploration across offshore and onshore basins to replenish reserves and sustain crude production above one million barrels per day. This strategy is driving demand for higher-resolution seismic data that can help companies better understand complex geological structures, reduce uncertainty and identify prospective opportunities before committing capital to drilling.

Viridien maintains extensive 3D broadband seismic coverage across the Lower Congo and Kwanza basins, two of Angola’s most established offshore exploration regions. Its datasets support prospect generation and acreage evaluation across producing areas, as well as emerging deepwater and pre-salt plays.

A key component of Viridien’s Angolan portfolio is a regional 3D pre-stack depth migration dataset covering more than 7,200 km². The dataset delivers enhanced imaging of pre-salt and post-salt structures, where complex geology can make conventional interpretation challenging. These insights enable operators to refine geological models, prioritize prospects and better assess exploration opportunities.

Viridien expanded its portfolio in 2025 with the launch of a seismic reimaging program covering Block 22. The approximately 4,300 km² dataset is designed to support evaluation of underexplored structures along the Atlantic Hinge zone ahead of Angola’s upcoming licensing round. Final results are expected in the second half of 2026, providing prospective investors with updated subsurface insights as they assess potential participation in the block.

The program comes as Angola works to attract new entrants and encourage existing operators to increase exploration activity. Major developments in the Kwanza Basin, renewed interest in Namibe and Benguela, and upcoming licensing opportunities are expanding the range of acreage under evaluation. At the same time, operators are revisiting mature areas where improved seismic processing can reveal overlooked prospects close to existing infrastructure.

Viridien’s Bronze Sponsorship of AOG 2026 will connect the company with operators, regulators and investors assessing Angola’s next generation of exploration opportunities. By enabling more informed acreage evaluation and prospect selection, Viridien’s seismic technologies can help reduce exploration uncertainty and support the development of future drilling campaigns.

The speaker lineup includes Nillian Mulemi, CEO, Petrofund, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Loïc du Rusquec, Executive Board Member and Board Director, IFP Training. Together, they bring decades of experience developing national talent pipelines, strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring local professionals are equipped to support increasingly complex energy projects across the continent.

Established in 1993, Petrofund advances human capital development through scholarships, institutional support and strategic partnerships that strengthen science, engineering and technical education. The organization operates under a mandate to build the skilled workforce needed to support Namibia’s emerging upstream petroleum industry. With TotalEnergies pursuing Venus FID in 2026 and the race for first oil production by 2030 on, Petrofund aims to position Namibia’s youth at the forefront of the country’s next development chapter. Mulemi is expected to share insight into this strategy during AEW 2026.

Representing Nigeria, Ogbe joins the conference at a time when the country is striving to reach two million barrels per day in oil production, driven by a renewed wave of billion-dollar investments. The NCDMB positions Nigerian companies and entrepreneurs at the center of this investment drive by promoting the development and utilization of in-country capacities for the industrialization of the country. Recent milestones reflect this vision, including the launch of a Cradle-to-Career academic excellence program, new oil and gas training certification and a human capital development program introduced alongside TotalEnergies and Geoplex.

Meanwhile, as a leader in professional training and skills development for the energy, mobility and environment sectors, IFP Training delivers specialized programs covering exploration, production, refining, energy transition technologies and operational excellence, helping companies and governments strengthen workforce capabilities across traditional and emerging energy sectors. Through its partnerships with operators and national institutions worldwide, IFP Training continues to support the development of highly skilled technical professionals capable of meeting the evolving demands of the global energy industry. Du Rusquec joins AEW 2026 to discuss the impact of these programs on Africa’s energy sector.

“Africa’s energy future will not be determined solely by the projects we develop, but by the people we equip to lead them. Building local technical expertise, strengthening national institutions and creating opportunities for African professionals are essential to ensuring the continent captures the full value of its natural resources,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

TDB Group continues to strengthen its position as one of Africa’s leading development finance institutions, supporting infrastructure, energy and industrial projects across the continent. In Angola, the bank introduced the Angola Export and Trade Development Facility in partnership with the Angola Sovereign Wealth Fund in 2025 to expand export capacity and improve access to infrastructure financing. Gift Moonga, Chief Executive, Southern Africa & Island States, is expected to discuss how innovative financing mechanisms such as this can strengthen Angola’s position as a regional energy hub.

As one of Africa’s largest trade finance institutions, Afreximbank has become a major financier of Angola’s upstream, downstream and energy infrastructure projects. Its recent investments include a $1.3 billion facility for the Soyo fertilizer plant, announced in 2025, and a $1.75 billion syndicated receivables purchase facility for Sonangol in early 2026, supporting the national oil company’s operating and capital expenditure requirements. Peter Olowononi, Director, Regional Operations, Southern Africa, will examine the role of development finance in accelerating Angola’s energy ambitions.

JP Hanson, Managing Director and Global Head of the Oil & Gas Group at Houlihan Lokey, joins the conference as the global investment bank continues to expand its advisory work across the energy sector. Through its dedicated Oil & Gas Group, the firm advises upstream, midstream, downstream and oilfield services companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, restructuring and strategic transactions. Hanson is expected to provide a global perspective on investment trends and capital markets shaping the energy industry.

Imbono, the operational platform of Gemcorp has established a significant presence in Angola’s energy sector through investments in strategic infrastructure. These include the Cabinda Refinery, in which Gemcorp holds a 90% stake, and which commenced operations in 2025 with an initial processing capacity of 30,000 barrels per day. The firm also partnered with Angola’s Sovereign Wealth Fund in 2025 to launch a $500 million Africa-focused infrastructure fund aimed at expanding access to project finance across the continent. Pablo Mattos, Head of Downstream Operations, will speak at AOG 2026.

Meanwhile, Banco Sol – one of Angola’s leading financial institutions – continues to play an important role in improving access to finance for domestic companies operating across the oil and gas value chain. The bank recently partnered with the Association of Companies Providing Services to the Angolan Oil Industry to strengthen financing opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, underscoring the growing importance of domestic financial institutions in supporting local participation and project delivery. Osvaldo Lemos Macaia, President of the Executive Committee, has joined the AOG 2026 speaker lineup.