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Caribbean Shallow-Water Plays Move into Focus as Guyana–Suriname Basin Expands

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This month’s Caribbean Energy Week will host a technical workshop on shallow-water drilling as new licensing rounds, exploration wells and infrastructure investment drive growing interest across the region

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, March 16, 2026/APO Group/ –While deepwater discoveries have dominated the Caribbean’s upstream narrative, shallow-water blocks across Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago are emerging as a parallel opportunity as operators seek lower-cost exploration prospects in the expanding Guyana–Suriname Basin. Governments across the region are advancing licensing frameworks, seismic programs and drilling campaigns aimed at unlocking offshore resources closer to shore, while improved geological data and drilling technology are strengthening the commercial case for shallow-water development.

 

These opportunities will be in focus during a dedicated technical workshop – “Operational Challenges in Shallow Water Drilling” – at Caribbean Energy Week (CEW) 2026. The session will focus on mitigating operational risk while leveraging new technologies to optimize cost and performance across the region’s mature and emerging basins.

 

Guyana Expands Beyond Deepwater Core

 

Guyana’s global oil story has been dominated by the deepwater Stabroek Block, but policymakers are increasingly focused on expanding exploration into adjacent shallow-water acreage. Following its offshore licensing round, the government finalized agreements for multiple shallow-water blocks under a standardized production sharing framework designed to attract a broader range of operators.

 

One example is the S7 block, awarded to Cybele Energy, covering approximately 200 square-kilometers offshore. The fiscal terms – 10% royalty, a 10% corporate tax and a cost-recovery cap – aim to balance investor incentives with higher state revenue, while lowering barriers to entry for mid-size explorers.

 

Geological studies across Guyana’s shallow-water acreage have identified roughly 90 exploration leads across 11 blocks, containing an estimated 90 billion barrels of oil in place, suggesting the petroleum system extends well beyond the basin’s deepwater fairway.

 

For investors, the appeal is straightforward: shallower wells typically require smaller capital commitments and shorter development timelines, offering an entry point into one of the world’s most prolific emerging hydrocarbon provinces.

 

Suriname’s Offshore Momentum Builds

 

Just across the maritime border, Suriname is experiencing similar momentum. In late 2025, Chevron and Petronas secured exploration rights for shallow offshore Blocks 9 and 10 alongside QatarEnergy and the state-backed Paradise Oil Company, marking one of the largest recent commitments to Suriname’s upstream sector.

 

Meanwhile, Chevron recently drilled the Korikori-1 exploration well in Block 5 in water depths of roughly 40 meters – demonstrating continued confidence in the shallow-water potential of the basin. These exploration activities complement major deepwater developments such as the $10.5 billion GranMorgu project led by TotalEnergies, which is moving toward production later this decade and strengthening the broader investment case for the basin.

 

The result is a layered offshore ecosystem where deepwater megaprojects anchor regional infrastructure, while shallow-water exploration expands the opportunity set for new entrants.

 

Trinidad’s Mature Basins Offer Redevelopment Potential

 

Trinidad & Tobago provides a different but equally important opportunity: redevelopment of mature shallow-water basins. Decades of production have left the country with a significant network of offshore infrastructure, pipelines and service capacity. For operators, this existing ecosystem creates opportunities for smaller discoveries that can be tied back quickly and economically. In a market increasingly focused on capital discipline, such infrastructure-led developments are gaining renewed attention as companies seek projects that balance resource potential with manageable costs.

 

Despite their advantages, shallow-water projects come with technical and operational challenges. Complex geology, environmental sensitivities and aging infrastructure can complicate drilling campaigns. Addressing these issues will be a key focus of the workshop at CEW 2026, where operators, engineers and service providers will examine strategies to improve well design, reduce drilling risk and deploy new technologies in the region’s offshore environment.

 

As the Guyana–Suriname Basin continues to mature and regional governments seek to diversify their upstream portfolios, shallow-water exploration may represent the Caribbean’s next wave of opportunity.

 

Join us in shaping the future of Caribbean energy. To participate in this landmark event, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

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

Energy

Siemens Energy Expands Angola Footprint as Senior Vice President (SVP) Waheed Abbasi Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026

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From FPSO power solutions to local service capacity, Siemens Energy is scaling its role in Angola at a time when the country is pursuing gas expansion

LUANDA, Angola, April 28, 2026/APO Group/ –Waheed Abbasi, Senior Vice President, Gas Services: Europe and Africa at Siemens Energy, has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition as a speaker. Abbasi’s participation comes at a time when Siemens Energy is deepening its footprint in Angola through major power infrastructure and local capacity investments, positioning itself as a key enabler of the country’s evolving oil and gas market. At the event this September (9-10), Abbasi is expected to bring insights into how power technology and gas infrastructure are converging to support Angola’s next phase of industry growth.

With a long-standing presence in Angola, Siemens Energy has played a central role in strengthening power and infrastructure systems through projects in the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors. The company is currently developing an 80 MW power generation plant for the Kaminho FPSO – part of the first large deepwater development in the Kwanza Basin. The FPSO, currently 50% complete, will be installed in 2027 with first oil produced from the Cameia field in 2028. By integrating advanced power generation systems into offshore infrastructure, Siemens Energy is supporting more efficient, lower-emission production while ensuring reliable operations in deepwater environments.

At the same time, Siemens Energy has strengthened its on-the-ground presence with the launch of its Angola Service Shop in 2026. The facility brings service execution, project support, training and critical spare parts closer to customers, enabling faster response times and improving operational reliability across Angola’s oil and gas sector. By anchoring its services locally, Siemens Energy is not only supporting existing projects but also building the infrastructure needed to sustain long-term industry growth, reinforcing supply chain resilience and technical capacity within the country.

Siemens Energy’s activities in Angola form part of a broader continental strategy, with the company active in more than 50 African countries and leading initiatives across power generation, renewable energy and hydrogen development. This pan-African footprint positions Siemens Energy as a key partner for governments seeking to balance industrial growth with energy transition goals. In Angola, this is particularly relevant as the country looks to diversify its energy mix while leveraging its hydrocarbon resources to drive economic development.

Angola’s strategy to increase the share of gas in its energy mix to 25% is creating new opportunities for companies like Siemens Energy to deploy gas-to-power solutions. The start of key projects, including the country’s first non-associated gas project – led by the New Gas Consortium –, is expected to unlock greater gas flows, supporting both LNG exports and domestic power generation. As gas availability increases, the need for efficient power generation, grid infrastructure and industrial energy solutions will become more critical. Siemens Energy’s technology portfolio, spanning gas turbines, power systems and integrated energy solutions, positions the company to play a central role in enabling this transition.

Stepping into this picture, Abbasi’s participation at AOG 2026 comes at a time when Angola is aligning upstream growth with downstream and power sector expansion, creating a more integrated energy ecosystem. The event will provide a platform for discussions around gas monetization, power infrastructure and industrial development, areas where Siemens Energy is actively contributing.

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

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African Mining Week (AMW) to Showcase Emerging Mining Frontiers as Africa Ramps Up Geomapping

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The upcoming African Mining Week will connect global investors with emerging opportunities across Africa’s mining sector amidst a surge in national geomapping exercises across the continent

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 28, 2026/APO Group/ –State agencies the Ghana Gold Board and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority have signed an agreement to co-conduct geological surveys in the Funsi, Atuna and Bensere East regions. The initiative aims to expand national gold reserves, increase output and support the formalization of artisanal mining operations. The agreement is part of a growing trend across Africa, with mineral-rich countries embarking on national geomapping programs to strengthen mineral production, de-risk exploration projects and position the continent as a key player in the global mineral supply chain.

 

Acceleration in geomapping exercises will be a key focus at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) Conference and Exhibition – The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa, scheduled for October 14-16 in Cape Town. The event will connect global investors and geophysical technology providers with African regulators and project developers, facilitating strategic collaborations aimed at unlocking greenfield developments.

The theme for AMW 2026 – Mining the Future: Unearthing Africa’s Full Mineral Value Chain – reflects a growing trend among African mining jurisdictions eager to unlock the continent’s $8.5 trillion worth of untapped mineral potential. This is backed by the launch of national geomapping initiatives, aimed at identifying new exploration frontiers and supporting investments.

Recent examples include Burundi’s mid-March partnership with U.S. companies Lifezone Metals and KoBold Metals to assess the Musongati Nickel project and other critical mineral prospects. The Democratic Republic of Congo has also engaged Xcalibur Smart Mapping to survey an area spanning 700,000 square kilometers as part of a strategy to unlock over $24 trillion in untapped mineral reserves, with 90% of its geology yet to be explored.

Zambia has also completed 55% of its national geomapping project, as the country seeks to identify new copper deposits to meet its 2031 target of increasing output to three million tons. Meanwhile, Nigeria is advancing its own geomapping efforts following approval of a N1 trillion budget for 2026, aimed at unlocking the country’s potential in more than 44 critical minerals. Several other countries, including Tanzania, are also implementing similar initiatives, while South Africa is providing technical support to nations such as Gabon, South Sudan and Nigeria.

Liberia has plans to geomap 80% of its largely unexplored geology. In an exclusive interview ahead of AMW 2026, Matenokay Tingban, Liberia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, told organizers that “we are seeking geomapping and exploration partners. With Liberia’s vast but largely untapped mineral resources, access to geoscientific data will allow us to negotiate stronger investment deals and unlock downstream infrastructure development.”

The surge in geomapping initiatives highlights Africa’s commitment to unlocking its mining sector growth and presents lucrative opportunities for global exploration, drilling and geophysical technology providers. AMW 2026 will showcase ongoing geomapping progress, connecting African stakeholders with global partners to foster partnerships that will drive the expansion of Africa’s drilling and greenfield projects.

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

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African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) Pushes Regional Energy Hubs to Unlock Africa-Wide Investment Scale

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APPO’s Secretary General outlines integration strategy, gas potential and financing tools reshaping Africa’s energy investment landscape at IAE 2026

PARIS, France, April 24, 2026/APO Group/ –The African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) is promoting the development of regional energy hubs across the continent, aiming to remove trade barriers and strengthen infrastructure interconnections – from pipelines to refining and distribution networks.

 

Speaking at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2026 in Paris, Farid Ghezali, Secretary General, APPO, said the initiative is central to repositioning Africa in the global energy system. The strategy signals a structural shift for investors: away from fragmented national markets toward a unified, high-growth regional bloc of 1.4 billion people.

“For investors, this changes everything,” Ghezali said. “You are no longer investing in isolated national markets, but in an integrated regional market with scale, demand growth and long-term potential.”

We need long-term partnerships that justify large-scale investments and create stability for both producers and buyers

Ghazali framed the push for integration as a response to a rapidly shifting global energy landscape marked by volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. “Recent events have shown that energy security is not just about supply – it is about reliability and resilience,” Ghazali noted. “The world is looking for diversification and stability,” he said. “Africa can offer both – but only if we organize ourselves as a connected and competitive energy market.”

A key part of APPO’s vision is addressing the continent’s infrastructure gap. Despite holding more than 600 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Africa continues to face constraints in monetizing its resources. “Resources in the ground are not enough,” Ghezali noted. “We need pipelines, LNG facilities, processing infrastructure – real assets that connect supply to demand.”

He emphasized that Africa must move beyond short-term, transactional energy deals, particularly in its engagement with Europe. “We cannot remain in the logic of short-term transactions,” he said. “We need long-term partnerships that justify large-scale investments and create stability for both producers and buyers.”

Financing remains a hurdle, especially as traditional capital sources become more cautious under ESG pressures. However, short-cycle exploration, near-field developments and optimization of existing assets offer immediate value, as recent successes in Namibia, MSGBC countries and Ivory Coast have shown. To support more projects, APPO has backed the creation of the African Energy Bank. At the same time, investors’ preferences are shifting toward integrated energy projects that combine upstream development with domestic power generation or LPG production. “The most attractive projects today are those that deliver both financial returns and development impact,” Ghazali said. “Gas-to-power projects respond to both energy security and sustainability.”

Ghazali underscored the need to boost intra-African energy trade. “We produce oil and gas, yet we import refined products,” he said. “This must change. Regional integration is the only path to a competitive and self-sufficient energy market.”

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

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