The upcoming South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) conference – scheduled for November 24-25, 2026, in Juba – will serve as the premier venue for investors, development finance institutions (DFIs) and project developers to structure funding, forge partnerships and allocate capital across the nation’s evolving energy value chain.

South Sudan Advances Upstream, Infrastructure Opportunities  

South Sudan’s investment pipeline spans exploration, enhanced oil recovery, refining, crude transportation and power infrastructure. With an estimated 3.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, the country is seeking to attract new operators and technical partners to develop available acreage while improving production efficiency across mature fields.

Regional national oil companies are already advancing exploration activities. The South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), through its subsidiary Strategic Fuel Fund, holds a 90% interest in Block B2 alongside national oil company Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet). SANPC is preparing further exploration work, including a planned 2D seismic campaign, creating opportunities for geophysical contractors, equipment suppliers and technical service providers.

Nilepet is also pursuing investment in downstream infrastructure, including a proposed 350-kilometre crude pipeline connecting the Tharjiath oilfields in Block 5A with the Paloch oilfields in Blocks 3 and 7. The company is seeking strategic investment partnerships for refinery development and the pipeline project, alongside plans to expand fuel storage, distribution and LPG infrastructure.

Development Finance Expands Investment Options 

The formal establishment of the Africa Energy Bank on October 31, 2026, marks a significant development in regional energy financing. Created by the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation and Afreximbank, the institution has $5 billion in authorized capital and is expected to begin financing projects in 2027.

The bank aims to address funding gaps across Africa’s oil and gas sector, with an initial focus on regional infrastructure, including pipelines, refining and domestic energy development. Its establishment could create additional financing options for South Sudan’s petroleum projects, although no funding commitments to the country have been announced.

Beyond the AEB, development finance institutions are already supporting South Sudan’s wider energy infrastructure. The World Bank is financing the $53 million South Sudan Energy Sector Access and Institutional Strengthening Project, which includes grid expansion in Juba and support for decentralized electrification. Meanwhile, the African Development Bank Group has approved $153.66 million in financing for the Uganda–South Sudan electricity interconnection project, supporting regional power trade and improved electricity access.

Afreximbank also maintains a trade finance partnership with South Sudan’s Kush Bank, which was appointed as an intermediary in 2023. The arrangement provides a framework for trade finance instruments, including letters of credit and bank guarantees, that can support equipment imports and commercial activity. Access to these instruments could benefit domestic suppliers and service companies participating in the energy sector.

SSOP 2026 Connects Energy Projects with Global Capital 

As South Sudan seeks to accelerate production growth and expand its energy infrastructure, SSOP 2026 will provide a platform to connect priority projects with regional and international financiers.

Returning as the country’s official energy investment platform, the conference will bring together government representatives, national and international oil companies, development finance institutions, commercial banks, private investors and technology providers to explore financing structures, investment partnerships and project development opportunities.

Held under the theme Resource Renaissance – Energy-Fueled Growth for a New Generation, SSOP 2026 will focus on mobilizing capital across exploration, production optimization, refining, petroleum transportation and power infrastructure, supporting South Sudan’s efforts to translate its energy resources into commercial development.

For more information, visit https://SouthSudanOilPower.com/.

The approximately 830-kilometre railway will connect Chingola in Zambia’s Copperbelt to Luacano in Angola, where it will link with the existing Benguela Railway and provide direct access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Port of Lobito.

A strategic component of the broader Lobito Corridor initiative, the project has reached several important development milestones. AFC last month announced preferred bidders for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the Angolan and Zambian sections, following an international competitive tender. The project has also signed memoranda of understanding and letters of intent with prospective railway users covering approximately 2 million tonnes of freight a year.

In addition to providing a direct Atlantic export route for Zambia’s copper and critical minerals, the project is being developed as an integrated economic corridor supporting agricultural exports, petroleum logistics, manufacturing and regional trade. Transit from the Copperbelt to the Port of Lobito is expected to take approximately seven days.

The project’s commercial strategy targets approximately 5 million tonnes of annual freight at steady state, comprising petroleum products, agricultural commodities, copper, cobalt, zinc and other industrial cargo. AFC is targeting financial close in 2027.

Discussions focused on continued collaboration between AFC and the Government of Zambia on the project’s next steps, including the railway’s right of way and land for associated agricultural, petroleum and freight-handling facilities. The meeting also considered rail sector policy measures to support the corridor’s long-term competitiveness, including integration with the Zambia Railways network and the Chingola–Ndola line.

President Hichilema reaffirmed the railway’s importance to Zambia’s economic development and regional integration. He said: “The Zambia–Lobito Railway is central to our vision of transforming Zambia into a competitive regional hub for trade, manufacturing, agriculture and mineral value addition. By connecting our productive sectors to international markets more efficiently, we can reduce logistics costs, attract investment and create jobs. We welcome AFC’s progress and will continue working closely together to advance this strategic project.”

Samaila Zubairu, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFC, said: “Every tonne that leaves Zambia unprocessed takes jobs away with it. This railway changes that. Starting in Chingola, it gives Zambia a seven-day route to the Atlantic and every reason to process, manufacture and add value at home. With preferred EPC bidders selected and strong interest from freight users, we are now working with the Governments of Zambia and Angola, the African Development Bank, the Government of Italy and our other partners to reach financial close. We are building a railway. Zambia will build an economy on it.”

AFC continues to work with the Governments of Angola and Zambia, the European Union, the United States Government, the Government of Italy and the African Development Bank, alongside Italian development finance institution CDP and Italian export credit agency SACE, to bring the Zambia–Lobito Railway into construction.

Previously, customers often had to travel to banks or dedicated payment outlets to pay for their Mukuru orders. Now, they can simply visit a spaza shop close to home, work or where they usually shop.

For people in townships, peri-urban and rural areas who rely on cash and have traditionally had limited access to formal pay-in points, particularly South Africa’s migrant communities, this change removes a real barrier and makes it easier to send money home. With these pay-in points inside spaza shops, Mukuru’s services become part of places people already go, meaning fewer extra trips and more timely payments.

“Every additional pay-in point represents one less barrier for a customer trying to send money home,” said Erone Kyte, Commercial Manager: Cross-Border Remittances at Mukuru. “Our partnership with Flash gives us the scale to bring Mukuru’s services into the everyday spaces our customers already know and trust. It’s a meaningful step in making remittances simpler, more accessible and genuinely closer to the communities we serve.”

For Mukuru, working with Flash means reaching even more customers in underserved urban, township, and rural areas. By leveraging Flash’s established network, Mukuru can now offer cash pay-in options where they didn’t exist before. The expanded network is expected to help more people access Mukuru’s services, support growth in its South African customer base, and make cross-border payments more convenient.

Rens Rezelman, General Manager for Flash’s Merchant Division, commented, “Flash works to bridge the digital product and payments gap between businesses and consumers across the country. Launching Mukuru across our network presents another opportunity to bring a familiar brand closer to the people who need it most.”

The sector is now recognised as a R750 billion  industry. According to data tracked by Trade Intelligence, total turnover recently reached R197 billion, growing at roughly 15% annually. Research confirms that traditional trade and spaza shops are growing faster than large supermarket chains, with almost 80% of South African households shopping at these traditional trade outlets regularly. (https://apo-opa.co/4iDwZr8) Bringing Mukuru payments to these stores is a natural fit and helps shop owners draw in more customers and offer more services to their communities. Mukuru and Flash will build awareness of the new pay-in option through store, digital, and community promotions in the coming months.

This partnership is part of Mukuru’s ongoing drive to make cash pay-ins easier and improve access to remittance services for people living and working in areas with limited formal financial services. Over the past two years, the company has made similar moves to make its payment network bigger and more accessible across the region.

Mukuru customers looking to pay closer to home can easily find their nearest participating Flash pay-in point using the Mukuru app or website.