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Enabling Angola to Achieve its Local Content Ambitions at Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022

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3 years ago

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Angola Oil & Gas

Angola Oil & Gas 2022 explores the impact of Angola’s local content policies to date and how to facilitate further capacity building and skills development in the national oil and gas industry

LUANDA, Angola, November 30, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Local content stakeholders united for a high-level panel at the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022 Conference & Exhibition (http://bit.ly/3UyBCpP) in Luanda on Tuesday to discuss how Angola can meet its local content ambitions and maximize partnerships with regional and international firms to enhance oil and gas development and exploitation, while creating opportunities for local players.

Under the theme, “The Evolution of Angola’s Oil and Gas Sector: Strategies for the Angolanization of the Local Energy Industry, and the Implications for all Participants in the Sector,” the panel was moderated by Norman Nadorff, Special Counsel, Mayer Brown and featured Marco Toninelli, Director of Asset Based Services, Saipem; Francisco Monteiro, CEO, Brimont; Zenaida Martins, Local Content Manager, ChampionX; João Filipe, Chairman & CEO, Cabship; Bráulio de Brito, President, AECIPA – Association of Oil & Gas Service Companies; and Nuno de Miranda Catanas, Founding Partner, MC Jurist as panelists.

The panel began with a presentation on Angola’s local content law and changes by André Ngoma, MIREMPET and Maura Nunes, Coordinator of the Local Content Center at the ANPG. Angola recently approved a new Legal Framework for the Promotion of Local Content that aims to retain more value in-country by encouraging the acquisition of national goods and services and requiring all contracts to contain a local content clause and training programs.

Ngoma kickstarted the presentation stating that, “We needed something to help us grow. The ministry was responsible for the policy, ANPG implements the legal provisions. The ministry is responsible for the human development plan and that is how this process was established.”

Nunes added that, “The system plays a vital role and is ambitious because we want to ensure the integration of the system as a whole to help us make more assertive decisions.”

Local content promotes the acquisition of local goods and services; the hiring and employment of local people and the transfer of know-how and technology

Under the progressive reorganization of the national oil and gas sector and recent legislative amendments, the Angolan Government has targeted the expansion of local content across each segment of the energy value chain, known as “Angolanization,” with the percentage of Angolans in the oil and gas workforce now in the range of 85-90%.

“When you have been in a country for over 40 years, you don’t talk about local content, you talk about being a local company. More than 80% from across the entire level of the organization is now Angolan, especially in engineering. In addition to that we have a strong training program to engage and train people both in Angola and across our engineering centers across the globe,” stated Toninelli.

Monteiro added that, “Angolanization ensures that we are not stuck regarding hiring and complying with local content according to international standards. It has been important because the perspective of local content is now broader. We still have specific concentration on the people because manpower is what makes the company work and we still have a long way to go. ANPG has played a positive role regarding the development of local content.”

The promotion of local content also carries the potential to yield positive results in support of Angola’s quest for diversification and industrialization, serving as a catalyst for growth in other economic sectors directly and indirectly linked to the oil and gas industry, including construction, transportation, technology, agriculture, logistics, shipping and maritime services.

“Local content promotes the acquisition of local goods and services; the hiring and employment of local people and the transfer of know-how and technology. The acquisition of local goods and services forms part of economic diversification and creates value to industries. Local content creates significant opportunities for employment and up-skilling, which is now reinforced by law. As the new law brings stricter regulations, if well implemented, it can be a means for the country to achieve growth,” stated Martins.

Meanwhile, the discussion moved to the role foreign companies play in Angola as stricter local content regulations are put in place. On this note, Catanas stated that, “Local content has two main areas: training of local personnel and the involvement of Angolan companies in the supply chain. My main point is to deconstruct a misconception. Local content is about inclusion both ways. It is not about the exclusion of foreign service providers. There is room for foreign providers in an area of local content.”

Contributing to this point, de Brito stated that, “need to promote services and products by Angolan companies. This does not mean the exclusion of foreign companies but involves integration. It is important to emphasize that we need to empower the local services, so we need to make sure that those services that can be done by local companies should be done in an efficient manner. We need the support of foreign companies but at the same time, guarantee our growth and the growth of the national companies.”

The role foreign companies play was further defined by Filipe, who added that, “It is of our opinion that the operators should play an active role in mentorship. There should be mentorship programs so that more companies can provide services to the country. We need to make sure that quality is not compromised so I believe that operators should spend more time and money in capacity building.”

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

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High-Level Minister Roundup to Headline African Energy Week 2026

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12 hours ago

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March 20, 2026

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African Energy Chamber

African Energy Week 2026 will convene ministers from Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Zambia and Niger to spotlight oil, gas expansion, reforms and investment opportunities continentwide

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 13, 2026/APO Group/ –A high-level ministerial roundup will take center stage at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from 12–16 October –, convening some of the continent’s most influential energy leaders at a defining moment for Africa’s oil, gas and power sectors. As hydrocarbon expansion converges with accelerating energy transition strategies, the gathering is set to spotlight real-time project execution, regulatory reform and cross-border infrastructure that are actively reshaping Africa’s energy future.

 

Confirmed ministers to date include Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies Mourad Adjal, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines Birame Soulèye Diop, Zambia’s Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote and Niger’s Minster of Petroleum Hamadou Tinni.

 

Fresh from a March OPEC+ decision to lift output to 977,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), Algeria enters AEW 2026 amid a $60 billion sector transformation. The country is also advancing a 500-well exploration drive and accelerating its 1.48 GW “Project of the Century” solar rollout. Gas exports to Europe remains central to the country, supported by hydrogen corridor planning and refinery expansion aimed at boosting capacity to 50 million tons by 2029.

 

Following license extension for Jubilee and TEN to 2040 and the late-2025 restart of the Tema Oil Refinery, Ghana is pushing a $3.5 billion upstream reinvestment plan while settling $500 million in gas arrears. A 1,200 MW state thermal plant and expanded gas processing at Atuabo anchor its gas-to-power shift, alongside a renewed upstream push in the Voltaian Basin.

The participation of these distinguished ministers underscores the scale of opportunity unfolding across Africa’s energy landscape and the urgency of aligning policy with capital

 

Senegal’s delegation comes on the back of strong production momentum, with the Sangomar oil field delivering 36.1 million barrels in 2025, outperforming forecasts, while the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG development ramped up to 2.9 million tons per annum following first gas. Dakar is now prioritizing domestic gas through refinery upgrades at the SAR refinery and preparations for Sangomar Phase 2 to push output beyond 100,000 bpd.

 

Zambia is redefining its power mix after drought-induced hydro shortfalls. New solar capacity – including the 200 MW Chisamba expansion and 136 MW Itimpi Phase 2 – is part of a broader 2,500 MW diversification drive. Cabinet has approved major regional fuel pipelines, while the Energy Single Licensing System fast-tracks approvals. Lusaka targets 10 GW generation by 2030, with solar and wind rising to one-third of supply.

Niger’s presence reflects its emergence as a serious oil exporter, with the fully operational 1,950-km Niger-Benin pipeline now moving up to 90,000 bpd to international markets. Alongside uranium expansion and renewed cooperation with Algeria on upstream assets, Niamey is advancing digital oversight reforms and reinforcing energy sovereignty amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

 

“The participation of these distinguished ministers underscores the scale of opportunity unfolding across Africa’s energy landscape and the urgency of aligning policy with capital,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Their leadership reflects a continent moving decisively from strategy to execution, creating a platform where investors can engage directly with the policymakers shaping Africa’s next wave of oil, gas and energy growth.”

 

At AEW 2026, this ministerial cohort will be well-positioned to offer investors direct insight into Africa’s most dynamic energy markets – where new barrels, new pipelines and new megawatts are reshaping regional growth trajectories in real time.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Enlit Africa 2026 Programme: 280+ speakers, African nuclear 2.0, Bruce Whitfield Business Breakfast

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12 hours ago

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March 20, 2026

By

Enlit Africa

The event, taking place 19-21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, expects 7,200+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors, making it Africa’s largest gathering of energy and water professionals

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Enlit Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4cEX08g) has released its full 2026 conference programme, featuring 280+ speakers across 8 specialised tracks including a new African Nuclear 2.0 session covering Koeberg’s 20-year life extension and Ghana’s nuclear vendor selection process.

 

The event, taking place 19-21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, expects 7,200+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors, making it Africa’s largest gathering of energy and water professionals.

Award-winning business journalist and best-selling author Bruce Whitfield will deliver the opening address at the Project & Investment Network Business Breakfast on 19 May, kicking off three days of strategic sessions, deal-making platforms, and technical masterclasses.

New programme content includes:

African Nuclear 2.0 – A dedicated session examining the transition from planning to execution, featuring:

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s successful 20-year life extension (Units 1 and 2 now licensed until 2044/2045)

Ghana’s progression to Phase 3 of its nuclear programme, evaluating US, Chinese, and Russian technology bids

West African Power Pool‘s 10 GW regional nuclear capacity target

Small Modular Reactor (SMR) deployment readiness across African grids

Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) – A new session exploring how private investment is unlocking Africa’s transmission bottleneck, featuring global case studies from India’s PowerGrid and lessons for scaling grid capacity across the continent.

Generation Masterclasses – Five interactive roundtables on gas-to-power, nuclear, hydro power, clean coal, and hydrogen.

AI in Africa’s Power Grid – Examining practical deployment realities, real-time analytics, and predictive maintenance applications already in operation across African utilities.

Conference sessions and technical hub sessions on the expo floor are CPD-accredited by the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) and the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE).

Co-located platforms:

Water Security Africa features country playbooks from Namibia (55-year potable reuse programme), Uganda (NRW reduction from 42% to 32%), Cape Town (Day Zero recovery strategies), and sector-specific stewardship sessions with Harmony Gold, Heineken, Mediclinic, and Growthpoint Properties.

Project & Investment Network (P&IN), part of the new Level 2 Executive Experience, connects project developers, investors, African utility CEOs, and DFIs through structured matchmaking, ministerial dialogues, and project briefings. Over the past two years, P&IN has facilitated $3 billion in project pitches.

Utility CEO Forum brings together 35+ confirmed utility CEOs under Chatham House Rule for candid, off-the-record strategic discussions on unbundling, prosumer management, and financial sustainability.

Municipal Forum addresses South African municipalities’ distribution, metering, and revenue challenges, including sessions on NRW management, tariff reform, Cost of Supply studies, and electrifying informal settlements.

Technical Hub sessions on the exhibition floor offer free, CPD-accredited training across Power, Renewable Energy & Storage, and Water tracks, with confirmed speakers from Eskom, ENGIE SA, ACTOM, National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), RenEnergy, and Matla Energy.

Site visits on 22 May include Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and the V&A Waterfront desalination plant.

Pass options:
Free expo pass registration: https://apo-opa.co/4bl2bYu

Free expo passes provide access to 250+ exhibitors and CPD-accredited Technical Hub sessions.

Delegate Pass:
Early bird registration closes 3 April 2026. Delegate passes start at R15,100 (Silver), with P&IN Executive passes at R32,000 including access to the Bruce Whitfield breakfast, Level 2 executive lounge, and investor matchmaking.

Download the full programme: https://apo-opa.co/3NwCble

Register: https://apo-opa.co/4cEX08g

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Binance Secures Second Major Legal Victory in U.S. Court Under Anti-Terrorism Act in Two Weeks

Published

12 hours ago

on

March 20, 2026

By

Binance

US Federal Court in Alabama Dismisses All Claims Against Binance in Latest Lawsuit Victory

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Binance (www.Binance.com), the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, announced today that a U.S. federal court in Alabama has dismissed all claims against the company in a lawsuit alleging violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). This marks Binance’s second major legal victory in an  ATA matter within one week, following their victory in the Southern District of New York.

A Full and Complete Legal Victory

In a detailed 19-page ruling, the Court found the plaintiffs’ complaint to be legally and factually deficient. The court’s decision to dismiss every claim across the board represents a decisive legal victory for Binance.

Sanctions compliance and terrorism financing are serious matters of law – they require evidence, legal rigour, and due process

The judge described the filing as a “shotgun pleading.” The complaint failed to clearly specify the claims and improperly grouped all defendants together without distinguishing individual conduct or liability. The ruling also emphasized that the plaintiffs did not meet the basic pleading standard to provide a “short and plain statement” of their claims.

Following the ruling, the court granted the plaintiffs until April 10, 2026, to file an amended complaint addressing the deficiencies identified. However, the judge warned that failure to adequately address these issues would result in dismissal of the entire case.

Building on Momentum and Upholding Legal Integrity

“This decision reinforces our unwavering commitment to protecting Binance and our community from unsubstantiated and bad-faith lawsuits,” shared Eleanor Hughes, General Counsel at Binance. “Sanctions compliance and terrorism financing are serious matters of law – they require evidence, legal rigour, and due process. Courts have now examined these claims on two separate occasions and found them to be without merit. These outcomes speak for themselves. We will not tolerate attempts to misuse the legal system to target our industry, and we remain as committed as ever to transparency, security, and lawful conduct in everything we do”.

This latest decision follows closely on the heels of Binance’s comprehensive victory in New York (https://apo-opa.co/46Xg0ev), where the Court similarly rejected allegations that the company assisted, participated in, or conspired with terrorists. Together, these rulings reflect Binance’s strong resolve to protect its platform and community.

Binance has consistently invested in industry-leading compliance infrastructure, regulatory engagement, and legal governance. The company will continue to vigorously defend itself against any attempts to bring unfounded claims or misrepresent its operations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.

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