PARAMARIBO, Suriname, March 3, 2026/APO Group/ –Minister of Oil, Gas and Environment of Suriname, Patrick Brunings, will deliver a keynote address at Caribbean Energy Week (CEW) 2026, taking place March 30-April 1 in Paramaribo, Suriname. Minister Brunings’ participation is one of the most anticipated contributions to this year’s agenda, bringing firsthand insight into Suriname’s accelerating energy sector transformation and regional collaboration initiatives.

 

Suriname is rapidly positioning itself as a significant player in the Caribbean’s energy landscape amid a series of deepwater discoveries and expanding upstream activity. The Guyana–Suriname basin has yielded a string of major hydrocarbon finds, with TotalEnergies and partners advancing the GranMorgu project in Block 58 – expected to deliver first oil by 2028 from an estimated 750 million barrels of recoverable reserves. These developments, backed by multi‑billion‑dollar capital commitments, signal a transition from exploration to phased production and infrastructure buildout. At least ten additional wells are anticipated offshore between 2025 and 2027, highlighting the basin’s continued exploration momentum.

 

In recent months, Suriname’s energy strategy has also extended into natural gas opportunities. Minister Brunings confirmed plans to establish a joint technical team with neighboring Guyana to evaluate combined gas resources and infrastructure scenarios, potentially expanding the scope of regional energy cooperation and unlocking broader investment prospects.

 

In recent statements, Minister Brunings has expressed both enthusiasm for Suriname’s prospects and caution about managing the sector’s growth responsibly. In late 2025, he underscored the need for structural economic transformation – what he described as accelerating toward “Suriname 3.0” – with a focus on preparedness for incoming investments and ensuring that offshore developments deliver sustainable benefits for the country’s economy.

 

His participation at CEW 2026 will provide industry and investment audiences with direct insight into Suriname’s evolving regulatory environment, resource plans and regional integration aspirations. As the country prepares to host its first major regional energy summit, Minister Brunings is expected to outline policy frameworks designed to attract foreign capital while strengthening local capacity and environmental stewardship.

 

“Sustainable and inclusive development is at the heart of Suriname’s energy vision, and Caribbean Energy Week,” said Sandra Jeque, International Conference Director at Energy Capital & Power. “Minister Brunings’ keynote will be invaluable for delegates seeking a clearer understanding of how Suriname intends to leverage its resource potential, foster cross‑border cooperation and balance growth with responsible stewardship.”

 

Caribbean Energy Week will convene policymakers, investors and industry leaders to discuss licensing rounds, financing models and energy transition pathways as the Caribbean region – led by frontier producers like Suriname – reshapes its role in global energy markets.

 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States of America, March 2, 2026/APO Group/ –U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright will return to Powering Africa Summit (PAS), taking place in Washington, D.C. on 19-20 March 2026, where he will take part in a fireside chat focused on energy access and clean cooking.

 

Having provided a keynote address and participated in a fireside chat at the 10^th anniversary PAS 2025, Secretary Wright will again join policymakers and industry leaders at this year’s Summit to discuss US-Africa cooperation across energy infrastructure, critical minerals and investment strategies.

Building on last year’s focus, ‘The Future of the US & Africa Energy Partnership’, PAS 2026 will analyse how US foreign policy is transforming under the current administration, including through investment-led commercial diplomacy.

Within this year’s theme, ‘Powering the US-Africa Partnership: Energy Infrastructure, Critical Minerals & Investment Strategies’, a spotlight will be shone on progress since PAS 2025, and the role of reciprocal agreements in advancing critical minerals development and increasing trade between the US and Africa.

Some of the Summit’s key sessions will explore large scale infrastructure investment, guarantees and financing, and how gas strategies between the US and Africa are increasing energy security and bilateral trade, with several senior government leaders set to attend, including:

• H.E. Honourable Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Vice President, Liberia
• H.E. Honourable Dr. Eng. Habtamu Itefa Geleta, Minister of Water & Energy, Ethiopia
• H.E. Honourable John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy & Green Transition, Ghana

Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will be in attendance to provide welcome remarks at the summit, alongside Adam Cortese – CEO of renewable energy solutions specialist Sun Africa – who will provide the summit sponsor welcome address.

Cortese commented: “Sun Africa is proud to sponsor the Powering Africa Summit 2026 at this transformative time for US-Africa energy collaboration. Secretary Wright’s continued leadership and engagement underscore the growing commitment to practical, investment-driven solutions that expand energy access and unlock opportunities in critical minerals and infrastructure. We look forward to meaningful dialogue with ministers, policymakers, and industry partners to advance win-win initiatives grounded in pragmatism and profitability, ensuring sustainable success that will withstand the test of time.”

Senior representatives from other leading global organisations, agencies and institutions include:

• John Jovanovic, Chairman, U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM)
• Nicholas Checker, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Thomas Hardy, Deputy Director & COO, U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
• Daniel Petrie, Acting Chief of Staff, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
• Nancy Rivera, MD, U.S. International Development Finance Group (DFC)

Simon Gosling, Managing Director of EnergyNet, commented: “We’re delighted to be back for the 11th Powering Africa summit in Washington DC next month, and of course to be welcoming Energy Secretary Chris Wright back to the Summit to meet with stakeholders and to discuss the future of US/Africa relations. At last year’s Summit the Secretary talked about America’s [all of government approach] to partnering with African nations, and we’re pleased to have confirmed such a broad, high level representation from across State, Energy, Exim, DFC, MCC and Commerce to provide those necessary insights into the Trump Administration policies…”

Alongside Summit Sponsor Sun Africa, Petrodex joins as the Lead Sponsor, Genesis Energy as the Networking App Sponsor, and Lagos State Office of Works as the African Government Partner. Other sponsors include Endeavor Energy, Denham Capital, Mission 300 and HYDRO-LINK. Associate Sponsors include Absa, Alliant, Allied Talent Partners, A&O Shearman, Nant Power, NRECA International and McDermott, Will & Schulte.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 2, 2026/APO Group/ –Vantage Capital (www.VantageCapital.co.za), Africa’s largest mezzanine debt fund manager, announced that it has made a R635m investment into Commercial Energy South Africa (“CESA”), a subsidiary of SolarAfrica Energy (“SolarAfrica”), a leading South African energy solutions provider, alongside co-investor, Greenpoint Capital. CESA holds commercial & industrial (“C&I”) solar and battery energy assets developed by SolarAfrica.

 

The investment comprises a mezzanine facility which was used to exit Inspired Evolution from CESA, making SolarAfrica the 100% owner of CESA.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, SolarAfrica provides solar-PV, battery storage, energy trading, electricity wheeling and gas-to-power services tailored for C&I clients, helping businesses lower electricity costs, secure reliable power and reduce carbon emissions. SolarAfrica has a strong track record, having delivered ~343MW of funded solar projects in Southern Africa (with a further 1.14GW plus being rolled out).  SolarAfrica has been twice recognised as the African Solar Company of the Year (2021 and 2023) by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA).

CESA acts as a holding company for C&I rooftop solar and battery storage solutions assets that have been developed by SolarAfrica. CESA currently holds a portfolio of assets with energy capacity of ~90MW across 134 different sites. All assets within CESA are managed by SolarAfrica.

Roshal Ramdenee, Partner at Vantage Capital, said “This transaction reflects our conviction in distributed energy infrastructure and the strength of SolarAfrica’s platform. CESA’s contracted C&I solar and battery portfolio provides predictable cash flows and supports South Africa’s shift to reliable and sustainable power. We look forward to working closely with SolarAfrica and Greenpoint as the platform continues to scale.”

Warren van der Merwe, Managing Partner at Vantage Capital, added “Vantage has provided senior debt to a number of renewable energy projects through its GreenX senior debt division. We are pleased to showcase in this deal how mezzanine finance can play a part in the rapidly evolving power sector. Congratulations to Charl and his team for driving a super-efficient process, which allowed us to close this deal under very tight timelines.”

Nic van Zyl, CIO at Greenpoint Capital, added “We are pleased to have finalised this transaction in support of the SolarAfrica team, whose progress we have tracked over many years. We look forward to collaborating with Vantage Capital on this high-quality solar asset.”

Charl Alheit, CIO at SolarAfrica, added “Vantage Capital and Greenpoint Capital have proven to be very innovative and efficient partners in enabling us to execute the buy-out of this portfolio from Inspired Evolution. Taking full control of the portfolio means we can continue to innovate by bringing more renewable energy solutions, such as electricity wheeling, to customers. This underscores our commitment to making cheaper, greener power more accessible to C&I businesses as part of their green energy journey.”

Step Advisory acted as deal advisor to SolarAfrica on the transaction, Werksmans acted as legal counsel for Vantage. Other advisors to the transaction included Cresco, Ernst and Young, Webber Wentzel and SLR Consulting.