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End Energy Colonialism and Let Africa Make its Choices on Natural Gas at Conference of the Parties (COP27) – African Energy Chamber

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COP27

900 million Africans rely on solid biomass such as firewood and charcoal for cooking, which causes indoor pollution that kills 600,000 people a year

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 16, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Let’s look at African realities

A kettle boiled twice a day by the rich and luxurious family of radical leftist group Extinction Rebellion’s (http://bit.ly/3GrFAM2) Chloé Farand in the France, uses five times as much electricity as an entire Malian family uses per year.

900 million Africans rely on solid biomass such as firewood and charcoal for cooking, which causes indoor pollution that kills 600,000 people a year. On average, a Tanzanian would take 8 years to consume as much electricity as Chloé Farand consumes in one month.

Sub-Saharan Africa has undiscovered, but technically recoverable, energy resources estimated at about 115.34 billion barrels of oil and 21.05 trillion cubic metres of gas. We have to use our natural gas to fix Africa’s problems. Chloé Farand needs to decarbonize and Bola, Aderike, Abosede, Atinuke Omolade and Oyinola need to have electricity, clean cooking, jobs and industrialization. And we need to use African natural gas to do that. Except you believe like many in Chloe Ferand’s camp do, that Africans do not deserve reliable and affordable power just like they have in Europe. 

Environmental Concerns

While environmental causes are a major focus in the West, lawmakers in Africa’s developing countries are more concerned with living wages and supplying basic necessities to the continent’s growing population.

The plan of radical western activists like Chloé Farand who often pretend to be journalists to hide their murky anti-Africa agendas and Extinction Rebellion would amount to austerity measures in Africa that would see Africans leaving petroleum resources in the ground that has benefitted Farand and generations of her family for hundreds of years, in exchange for poverty for Africans. Her parents colonized us and took everything and today she  essentially brands poor Africans criminals — or at the very least enemies of the environment — for using fossil fuels. We just saw it with the recent hit job and attacks on Africans at COP27.

Africa’s natural gas sector will soon be responsible for large-scale job creation, increased opportunities for monetization and economic diversification, and critical gas-to-power initiatives that will bring more Africans reliable electricity. These significant benefits should not be dismissed in the name of achieving net zero emissions on deadlines set by Farand, her ilk and people who only know Africa from TV, Halloween parties and the odd exotic trip abroad. To tell African countries with gas potential like Mozambique, Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, Libya, Algeria, South Africa, Angola and many others that they can’t monetize their gas and rather wait for foreign aid and handouts from their western counterparts makes no sense. At the same time, Farand and her family in France and the UK continue to enjoy power from the same gas they deny Africans, as well as coal and other forms of hydrocarbons.

What’s more, we can’t overlook the fact that renewable energy solutions are still young technologies —they are less reliable and more expensive per unit of power than other tried-and-tested sources of base load, including hydrocarbons. Achieving net zero by 2050 would therefore require that Farand focus her advocacy on her family and her neighbors rather than pick on poor Africans.

A ban on African natural gas production would bring about the collapse of many carbon-dependent governments in Africa

Banning African Natural Gas Production

A ban on African natural gas production would bring about the collapse of many carbon-dependent governments in Africa. The oil industry is the primary source of income for many African nations. Without the continuation of petroleum production — or time and opportunities to cultivate new revenue sources — their economies will suffer — along with their citizens.

Fossil Fuel executives should be at COP27. We have maintained in the past and continue to believe that demonizing energy companies and those that work in the oil and gas industry is not a constructive way forward and ignoring the role that carbon-based fuels have played in driving human progress distorts the public debate. Western countries are flat out wrong on this. They have benefited the most from Fossil Fuels. We are facing climate challenges today solely due to their historic pollution.

We cannot expect African nations, which together emitted seven times less CO2 than China last year and four times less than the US, according to the Global Carbon Atlas, to undermine their best opportunities for economic development by simply aligning with the Western view of how to tackle carbon emissions. At the same time, no western nation is ready to pay a fair price for their role in legacy carbon emissions

Outside Agitators at COP27.

Africans who attend COP27 are not outside agitators. Africans who work in the natural gas industry continue to be treated as outside agitators for daring to attend an African COP27 in Egypt. The nasty and vicious attacks from radical environmental groups such as extinction rebellion and their surrogates such as Chloe Farand who claim and pretend to speak in Africa’s best interest.  Where and when were they elected to this these positions and by which Africans might we ask? A very rich white woman who does not understand the need to defeat black energy poverty. We are not surprised by the racist undertones of their advocacy, given that her Orgarnisation do not hire or recruit black people. Maybe she can start by hiring some token blacks.  She has refused to provide documentation on her funding for such anti-black and African activities.  She plagiarized a discredited and debunked story to attack Africans. Sounds familiar.

Black people who are fighting energy poverty in Africa must understand that they will continue to be attacked by vested anti-African interests, many of which often pretend to be pro-African. They will face situations like that of African Americans fighting for civil rights in the 60s.  Segregationist Alabama Governor John Patterson for example refused to condemn white rioters, and instead blamed the Freedom Riders for the violence they suffered in Alabama at the hands of white rioters who used similar language like we see being used today against African anti-energy poverty advocates; trouble makers, charlatans, fraudsters, looters, corrupt, terrorists etc.

Patterson had warned that integration would cause “violence, disorder, and bloodshed” and had refused to repudiate an endorsement from the Ku Klux Klan. “If the Federal Government really wants to help in this unfortunate situation,” Patterson told reporters in Montgomery, “they will encourage these outside agitators to go home. We have the means and the ability to keep the peace in Alabama without any outside help.”

White opposition to black energy poverty was largely a quiet movement that has now become the rallying cry of the climate movement. Africans need to pay attention to this. When they attack your beloved African Energy Chamber and anyone associated with it, it is because our work is picking up steam and they need to silence our voices. We will not be silenced by people who live in houses that use coal, use gas to drive their cars, use diesel to power their economies and then lecture Africans that they need to stay in the dark and be happy for it for the sake of our environment. A very white colonialist agenda.  

China and Africa

While extinction rebellion and others are calling for a ban on investment in African oil and gas, China, meanwhile, appears willing to continue investing in fossil fuel projects in Africa. This means that to keep their nations energized, African governments will have little choice but to partner with China.

This generation of Africans have a battle on their hands. Like Nkrumah, Mandela, Sankara, Garvey, King, Ahmed Ben Bella, Malcolm and Winnie Madikizela Mandela, we will continue fighting these battles. We will push back harder; we will not let anyone silence and destroy the future of Africans. The God of our ancestors is with us and we are wearing the armor and winning the war.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Energy

South Sudan’s Joint Operating Companies to Engage International Partners at South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2026

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DPOC, GPOC and SPOC will connect with international contractors, technology providers and financiers to explore opportunities to restore production, improve recovery and upgrade existing petroleum infrastructure

JUBA, South Sudan, November 12, 2026/APO Group/ –South Sudan’s joint operating companies, Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC), Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) and Sudd Petroleum Operating Company (SPOC), have been confirmed as sponsors of South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2026, taking place November 24–25 in Juba. Responsible for South Sudan’s producing oilfields, the three companies represent major commercial opportunities for international oilfield service providers, engineering contractors, equipment suppliers, technology developers and financiers seeking to support the rehabilitation and expansion of the country’s petroleum industry.
 




 

 

Returning for its seventh edition, under the theme Resource Renaissance – Energy-Fueled Growth for a New Generation, SSOP 2026 comes as South Sudan targets an increase in crude production from approximately 170,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 230,000 bpd in the short term. Achieving this ambition will require investment in mature-field rehabilitation, enhanced oil recovery, well interventions and modern operating technologies, creating commercial opportunities for international oilfield services companies.

DPOC, GPOC and SPOC are central to this production growth strategy, operating established petroleum assets through joint ventures involving national oil company Nilepet and international partners. Their participation at SSOP 2026 will provide prospective commercial partners with opportunities to engage directly with the companies responsible for maintaining and expanding production from South Sudan’s existing fields.

GPOC, whose consortium includes China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Nilepet and ONGC Videsh, operates Blocks 1, 2 and 4 in Unity State. In May 2026, the company increased production to approximately 60,158 bpd from 40,000 bpd, supported by reservoir studies, production enhancement measures and field development activities. The increase demonstrates the potential for targeted technical interventions to improve recovery and extend the productive life of mature oilfields.

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DPOC operates Blocks 3 and 7 in Upper Nile State, including the Paloch production area. The company, whose consortium includes CNPC, Nilepet, Sinopec and Tri-Ocean, was producing approximately 100,000 bpd as of June 2026. Its established operations present opportunities for drilling contractors, reservoir specialists, engineering firms and equipment suppliers to support production optimization, well development and infrastructure upgrades.

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South Sudan also reached a preliminary agreement in October 2026 to transfer PETRONAS’ former stakes in DPOC and GPOC to Russian state-owned Zarubezhneft, potentially bringing additional expertise in mature-field rehabilitation, enhanced oil recovery and infrastructure development to the country’s upstream sector.

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Meanwhile, SPOC, which operates Block 5A, contributes approximately 14,000 bpd to national production. Its operations offer further opportunities for technical partnerships focused on sustaining output, rehabilitating existing facilities and improving operational efficiency.

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Beyond brownfield optimization, the joint operating companies’ established partnerships also provide a foundation for broader upstream investment, including opportunities to collaborate with Nilepet on the development of South Sudan’s available exploration acreage. With 14 exploration blocks open to prospective investors, the country is seeking international operators and financiers to accelerate greenfield development and expand its future production base.

As sponsors of SSOP 2026, DPOC, GPOC and SPOC will provide international industry players with an opportunity to engage with South Sudan’s established operating companies and explore commercial partnerships across the upstream value chain.

To register for South Sudan Oil & Power 2026 in Juba on November 24–25, visit: https://SouthSudanOilPower.com/

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

 




 

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Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Create-thon, Powered by Gebeya, Announces Nine Winners at Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2026

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Live pitch finale recognises AI-powered African creativity across gaming, video and music

LAGOS, Nigeria, November 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Nine creators have been named winners across gaming, video and music at CANEX WKND 2026, following the live pitch finale of the CANEX Create-thon, powered by Gebeya. Held on 6 November at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural and Creative Arts in Lagos, the session brought together finalists, industry judges and creative and technology leaders to explore Africa’s opportunities in the artificial intelligence economy.

 




  

Organised through the African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, in partnership with Gebeya and the Afreximbank Innovation Lab, the competition challenged creators to turn African-inspired ideas into working projects using Gebeya’s Dala Studio. Participants used AI tools within Dala Studio to produce digital games, videos and music, supported by computing resources and technical guidance. The session- which also marked the official launch of the Afreximbank Innovation Lab-aimed to demonstrate how access to technology can help African creators turn ideas into AI-powered digital creations, while examining the skills, infrastructure and commercial opportunities needed to build sustainable creative businesses. Alongside the live pitches, a panel discussion explored the theme, “Claiming Our Stake in the AI Revolution”, bringing forth a much needed conversation on the opportunities as well challenges of this fast evolving area, as well as what it means for African creators.

According to Gebeya, around 6,000 creators from 43 countries participated in the competition, submitting 792 games, music tracks and videos built on Dala Studio. The top three creators in each category advanced to the live pitch finale.

Speaking at the opening of the session, Temwa Gondwe, Director, Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank, emphasised that Africa’s creative influence must translate into greater ownership and economic returns. He called for affordable computing power, accessible creative tools, effective distribution channels and stronger protection of creators’ intellectual property.

“The question is not whether Africa will participate. The question is how much value Africa will create and own and retain,” Gondwe said.

He highlighted the importance of connecting creators with investors, buyers and audiences, arguing that access to technology must be accompanied by opportunities to build sustainable businesses.

The nine category winners were:

The question is how much value Africa will create and own and retain

  • Gaming: Feven Birhanu, first place; Micheal Nomyongo, second place; and Angulu Paul Otoroza, third place.
  • Video: Racheal Ifeoma Ogugua, first place; Hassan Ahmed, second place; and Temilorun Okediji, third place.
  • Music: Ndaya Victoria Mulidiki, first place; David AMA, second place; and Nadia Eman Ibrahim, third place.

The competition offered a total prize pool of US$50,000. Under its published award structure, first-, second- and third-place prizes in each category are US$7,000, US$3,500 and US$1,500 respectively, with additional awards for qualifying creators from the top 20 African countries.

The live pitch judging panel comprised Oluwasemilore Oludipe, Programmes Manager at Co-creation HUB (CcHUB); Mayenzeke Baza, Chief Investment and Development Officer at CEEIT; and Miebaka Anga, Strategic Partner Manager at YouTube.

Amadou Daffe, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Gebeya, urged young Africans to move beyond experimenting with AI and use it to create products and services that generate income.

“Knowledge is in the pocket. The question is, what do you do with it?” Daffe said.

He argued that the practical challenge is helping creators recognise and pursue the commercial possibilities of the technology. Drawing on Gebeya’s experience, he highlighted the importance of local-language capabilities and local-currency payment options in making digital tools more accessible to African users.

The panel was moderated by Omolabake Olagunju, Programme Manager at CcHUB Creative Economy. Joining Daffe were Malik Afegbua, Founder of Slick City Media; Uchechi Arinze, Creative Director and Founder of CHéCHI; Ibrahim Tsado Yisa, Africa Director at Udu Technologies; and Oo Nwoye, Founder of TechCircle.

The discussion examined how AI is changing the creation and consumption of creative work, including questions of ownership and originality. Contributions also explored intentional storytelling, cultural representation, algorithmic bias and the cost of accessing digital tools, highlighting the need to consider whose stories are being told and how African cultures are represented.

Emeka Onyia, Afreximbank’s Director, Digital Business and Innovation, described the session as an inaugural activity for the Afreximbank Innovation Lab. He said AI was lowering some of the equipment and production barriers facing creators, while stressing that skills and the effective use of tools remained essential. He also outlined the Lab’s ambition to bring people together to develop ideas and technologies that support African trade.

With a format centred on working projects rather than proposals alone, the Create-Thon combined practical technology access, mentorship and industry exposure. Gebeya also acknowledged IREX’s support for the initiative.

For Afreximbank, the competition forms part of its broader work through CANEX to develop and commercialise Africa’s creative and cultural industries, helping creators reach markets, attract partners and retain more value from their work.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 




 

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Emirates wins Gold at the 2026 Global Performance Marketing Awards

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Emirates was recognised as the first-ever winner of the Best Travel, Leisure & Experience Campaign award for its work to transform its affiliate marketing programme in Asia Pacific (APAC)

We’re proud to be recognised at the Global Performance Marketing Awards

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 12, 2026/APO Group/ —
  • Inaugural winner in the Best Travel, Leisure & Experience Campaign award category
  • Recognised for the transformation of its Asia Pacific affiliate programme
  • Performance marketing is a fundamental customer growth driver for Emirates

 




  

Emirates (www.Emirates.com) has won Gold in the inaugural Best Travel, Leisure & Experience Campaign category at the 2026 Global Performance Marketing Awards.

Emirates was recognised as the first-ever winner of the Best Travel, Leisure & Experience Campaign award for its work to transform its affiliate marketing programme in Asia Pacific (APAC) – one of the world’s most competitive travel markets where online travel agencies, airlines and travel agents all compete for the same affiliate partners.

The airline rebuilt its affiliate marketing programme by shifting from broad publisher volumes to a refined partner base that works harder without sacrificing efficiency, strengthening direct relationships, and focusing on investments that delivered the greatest impact, along with expanding into new affiliate partner categories. As a result, the airline’s revenue growth from performance marketing in APAC rose 31% in a single year.

At Emirates, performance marketing operates as a strategic engine for customer growth, not only as a marketing channel. An internal team of specialists combine channel expertise with advanced analytics, attribution, customer insights and rich first-party data, and keep a consistent focus on driving incremental revenue, customer quality and lifetime value.

Boutros Boutros, Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand for Emirates Group, said: “We’re proud to be recognised at the Global Performance Marketing Awards. This accolade underscores the team’s commitment to deliver real value for our customers and for the business. Performance marketing is a fundamental commercial growth driver for Emirates, and the team’s rigorous, data-led approach combined with smart automation, delivers substantial value back to the business. Their success is driven by clear strategy, well-defined objectives and disciplined execution, and we’ve improved both the quality of our bookings and revenue outcomes in APAC. It’s a win-win, and congratulations to all the teams involved.”

Emirates’ performance marketing at a glance

  • A core team in Dubai covers affiliate marketing, paid search and metasearch, supported by over 60 digital marketing colleagues and hundreds of partners globally. Together, these three channels delivers more than a third of new customers acquired through emirates.com.
  • The team manages strategy and execution for more than 5,000 always-on campaigns worldwide across search engines, flight search websites and affiliate marketing partners. Big data from partners powers this always-on engine and guides strategic investment decisions supporting more than 4,000 routes in 80 markets.
  • High levels of automation and strict processes allow the team to operate at this scale while keeping decisions consistent, with dedicated specialists across each discipline ensuring best-in-class execution and governance.
  • Exclusive partnerships enable Emirates to bring industry-first and industry-leading advertising solutions to market.

About the awards

The Global Performance Marketing Awards recognise work that drives measurable growth across performance and partnership marketing, and represent the collaborative efforts of brands, agencies, publishers and technology platforms. Entries are scored independently by multiple senior judges from brands, agencies and publishers across the industry, assessing each entry on strategic clarity, quality of execution, partnership collaboration and measurable commercial impact.

This latest win follows Emirates’ shortlisting at the Global Search Awards for Best Use of Search (Travel/Leisure).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Emirates Group.

 




 

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