LUANDA, Angola, March 16, 2026/APO Group/ –Angolan service provider Copia Group of Companies has joined the 2026 edition of the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition as a Platinum Sponsor. The company’s participation at the event  – Angola’s premier oil and gas forum – signals a broader commitment to developing the national hydrocarbon value chain as leading operators scale production. By joining AOG 2026, Copia Group strengthens its visibility within Angola’s evolving energy ecosystem while supporting exploration, development and infrastructure growth across the sector.

As Angola intensifies efforts to sustain crude production above one million barrels per day while accelerating new exploration campaigns and redevelopment programs, demand for high-quality infrastructure, fabrication, logistics and technical services is expanding. From deepwater developments and shallow water revitalization projects to non-associated gas monetization and refining enhancements, the country’s hydrocarbon value chain is entering a capital-intensive phase requiring experienced local and regional service providers capable of delivering at scale.

Within this context, Copia Group has positioned itself as a multidisciplinary provider supporting oil, gas and industrial operations. With capabilities spanning engineering services, construction support, project management and technical solutions, the company facilitates collaboration between operators, contractors and project stakeholders. Its Platinum Sponsorship at AOG 2026 reinforces this positioning at a time when Angola’s project pipeline is expanding across upstream and downstream segments.

In a 2025 interview with Energy Capital & Power, Adilson Mangueira Nelumba, Copia Group’s Chairman, and Grildo José Francisco, the company’s Project Director for Oil, Gas & Biofuels, highlighted that the company has “established itself as a strategic partner in Angola’s energy transformation, thanks to a solid combination of international partnerships, multidisciplinary technical expertise and a commitment to sustainable and local development.”

Beyond oil and gas services, Copia Group is playing a central role in expanding Angola’s hydropower portfolio. The company is leading the consortium developing the Caculo Cabaça Hydroelectric Project, set to produce 2,172 MW once completed. The first turbine is scheduled to operate in October 2026, with subsequent phases coming online through the end of 2028. As the project nears operation, Copia Group’s participation at AOG 2026 is expected to open new avenues for international collaboration, supporting accelerated project development.

Copia’s Platinum-level involvement underscores the importance of strong service sector collaboration in achieving Angola’s production and infrastructure targets. As the country aligns upstream expansion with downstream and midstream development, companies delivering engineering and construction solutions will remain critical to translating policy ambition into operational reality.

As tensions flare in the Middle East and Russian supply remains volatile, European buyers are urgently seeking stable alternative sources of gas – and Africa is emerging as a critical solution. Next month, energy ministers from Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and the Republic of Congo will convene in Paris at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum, spotlighting the continent’s LNG capacity and its emerging role in European energy security.

Following the dramatic disruption of Russian pipeline flows, Europe has increasingly turned to LNG to fill supply gaps – contracting cargoes from the U.S., Qatar and, increasingly, African exporters. While African cargoes still represent a smaller share of total imports, their relevance is growing as utilities factor in insurance costs, geopolitical risk and supply diversification. And now, with the Middle East in turmoil and the Strait of Hormuz effectively at risk, African LNG offers European buyers a geographically insulated, lower-risk alternative that can be delivered quickly to key regasification hubs.

Nigeria remains Africa’s LNG backbone, with its volumes historically flowing into Europe’s Mediterranean and Atlantic terminals through a mix of long-term contracts and spot cargoes. As Russian pipeline volumes have declined, Nigerian LNG has become a significant component of LNG deliveries into Iberian terminals, with Portugal sourcing over half of its LNG from Nigeria and Spain among the key European destinations for Nigerian cargoes.

Continued expansion – including the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project – is expected to boost export capacity toward the mid-2020s, adding new volumes that European buyers could secure through multiyear supply agreements. This positions Nigeria not just as a major producer, but as a durable contender for Europe’s long-term LNG demand.

Equatorial Guinea’s LNG exports via the Punta Europa facility have also found consistent markets in Europe and across the Atlantic Basin. Recent upstream developments, including the Chevron Aseng Gas Project, aim to secure additional gas feedstock, reinforcing LNG supply and supporting both domestic gas use and exports. European utilities have shown particular interest in shorter-route shipments from West Africa, as cargoes from Equatorial Guinea reach European terminals faster and with lower freight and insurance costs than many Middle Eastern shipments.

The Republic of Congo has rapidly expanded its LNG ambitions through the Congo LNG project, where Phase 2 – anchored by floating LNG technology – is expected to lift export capacity to roughly 3 million tons per year. Floating LNG’s advantages, including faster deployment, modular expansion and lower upfront capital requirements, position Congo as a flexible supplier for Europe’s evolving gas portfolio. Increasingly, European traders and utilities are factoring in speed to market and supply flexibility alongside price when structuring procurement strategies.

Senegal’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project – developed jointly with Mauritania – represents West Africa’s newest entry into global LNG markets. First gas and initial cargoes began in 2025, marking a major milestone for the region’s gas export ambitions. Planned expansions could add several million tons per year of additional capacity as the project ramps up production.

African LNG’s appeal lies not only in rising volumes but in geostrategic positioning. Compared with cargoes that must pass through conflict-prone routes like the Strait of Hormuz or rely on Russian pipeline networks, African exports are less exposed to direct conflict or geopolitical disruption. This relative “risk discount,” combined with competitive pricing and expanding production capacity, could increasingly shape procurement strategies among European utilities and gas traders.

The ministers gathering in Paris – representing Africa’s leading LNG-exporting countries – will be tasked with converting this growing European interest into concrete investment decisions, offtake agreements and long-term supply partnerships, reinforcing Africa’s role as a stable and reliable energy partner at a time when Europe urgently needs alternatives.

African producers will not replace Russian or Gulf supplies overnight. But with operational LNG capacity already flowing and new projects coming online, the continent’s role in strengthening European gas security is steadily expanding – and the discussions in Paris will reflect that shift in the global energy landscape.

IAE 2026 (https://apo-opa.co/4bp66Um) is an exclusive forum designed to connect African energy markets with global investors, serving as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to African Energy Week. Scheduled for April 22–23, 2026, in Paris, the event will provide delegates with two days of in-depth engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or register as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com

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

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 16, 2026/APO Group/ –African mining markets are witnessing an unprecedented surge in greenfield exploration, with governments and investors racing to secure new mineral reserves and expand production pipelines. Last year, South Africa awarded 358 new exploration licenses, Ghana is advancing more than 90 projects and Namibia has received over 800 new applications – all signaling Africa’s intent to strengthen its role in supplying minerals vital to the global economy. The move comes as demand for critical minerals is projected to quadruple by 2040, while gold and other traditional commodities reach record prices, making exploration a strategic priority for industrial growth, job creation and downstream economic diversification.

 

South Africa: Securing Global PGMs Leadership

South Africa is boosting its exploration pipeline to sustain global leadership in platinum group metals, chrome and manganese while revitalizing gold and iron ore sectors. In 2025, the country awarded 358 new prospecting rights and 32 mining rights, signaling a significant step toward unlocking mineral resources and supporting long-term production growth.

To further stimulate exploration, the government allocated R2 billion to support junior mining companies and expand activity. These efforts are part of a broader plan to mobilize R2 trillion in investment for the critical minerals sector and unlock an estimated R40 trillion in untapped iron ore resources.

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Ghana: Gold Sector Growth and Industry Diversification

Ghana hosts over 90 active exploration projects, reinforcing its status as Africa’s leading gold producer while expanding into critical minerals. The country has attracted more than $20 billion in mining and exploration investment over the past two years, reflecting strong investor confidence.

Speaking in Cape Town in February, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, emphasized Ghana’s diverse resource base, which includes significant deposits of bauxite, manganese, iron ore, cobalt and nickel. “We are looking forward to further discoveries of critical minerals that will support the global energy transition,” he said.

Namibia: Accelerating Licensing to Unlock Critical Minerals

Namibia is reforming exploration licensing to expand its mining sector and strengthen its position as a leading uranium and diamond producer. The country currently holds 588 Exclusive Prospecting Licenses alongside a growing pipeline of new applications.

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Mining Commissioner Isabella Chirchir confirmed in Cape Town that Namibia is deploying digital licensing platforms to accelerate processing, reduce backlogs and improve regulatory efficiency. With over 800 new exploration license applications and more than 600 pending environmental approvals, the country is positioning itself to attract increased exploration investment and unlock new mineral discoveries.

Continental Outlook: Strategic Exploration Across Africa

Other African markets are also intensifying exploration to advance national mining strategies: Zambia is expanding copper exploration to reach 3 million tons annually by 2031. Guinea is progressing exploration around the $20 billion Simandou iron ore project, the world’s largest untapped iron ore deposit, supporting global steel supply chains and the Simandou 2040 economic diversification plan.

Against this backdrop, African Mining Week, scheduled for October 14–16, 2026 in Cape Town, will highlight exploration opportunities across the continent. The event will feature panel discussions, country spotlights and project showcases focused on greenfield exploration, investment opportunities and strategies to unlock Africa’s untapped mineral wealth.

African Mining Week serves as the premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2026 conference from October 12-16 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.