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Gabon to Introduce Dual Legal Framework to Replace 2019 Hydrocarbon Code

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Gabon

Gabon is separating its existing Hydrocarbons Code into a dedicated Oil Code and Gas Code, strengthening regulatory oversight and improving the business climate

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 3, 2025/APO Group/ –Gabon’s Minister of Oil and Gas, Sosthène Nguema Nguema, announced that the country will introduce a dual legal framework to replace its 2019 Hydrocarbons Code. Speaking at the Invest in Gabon Energies Roundtable – sponsored by the Ministry of Oil and Gas of Gabon – at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025, Nguema explained that by separating the code into a dedicated Oil Code and Gas Code, the country aims to strengthen transparency and regulatory oversight, thereby attracting new investment across the sector.

“The discoveries we have had and the geological research we have undertaken are all revealing the potential that Gabon holds. The government is committed to implementing a legal framework that allows you to be comfortable in exploring,” stated Nguema.

By separating the existing Hydrocarbons Code, the country is creating a more investment-friendly environment for foreign operators. Duplex Yockot, Director General of Economic, Legal Affairs and Petroleum Data Management, Ministry of Oil and Gas, Gabon, explained that, “The new Oil Code builds on the existing Hydrocarbons Code and will deal with legal aspects associated with the industry. The Gas Code will contain terms that allow us to secure foreign investment in the gas industry.”

These regulatory amendments come as the country implements clear goals to reach 200,000 barrels per day in oil and gas production. Preye Angaye, Executive Director Infrastructure and New Business, Century Group, underscored the value of these objectives. He said, “The goals in the country are very clear and this is something that will encourage any potential investment. Gabon has developed a framework that is functional and supports investments.”

The government is committed to implementing a legal framework that allows you to be comfortable in exploring

In tandem with the new codes, Gabon is advancing seismic research with the aim of improving the geological understanding of the country’s basins. Michel Mouba, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Oil and Gas, Gabon, explained that “We have undertaken subsurface studies to understand the basin. When it comes to discoveries that have not been developed yet, today, we are wanting to promote these opportunities. We have data – which is key.”

With a renewed mandate to drive Gabon’s oil and gas industry, Gabon Oil Company (GOC) continues to spearhead upstream developments. The company is advancing both mature field redevelopment as well as frontier exploration campaigns, positioning itself as the national driver of oil and gas production.

“Gabon Oil Company has a goal to enhance production and revenue for the government. We need to look forward and that is through exploration. We have a strong advantage as the national oil company and will assist, partner and drive projects [forward] in Gabon,” stated Emery Lepo, Business Strategy Director, GOC.

State-owned Assala Gabon, an affiliate of Assala Energy, continues to deliver stable oil production from its portfolio of onshore assets. With an emphasis on asset rejuvenation, the company has successfully extended field life through enhanced recovery methods, drilling campaigns, and infrastructure upgrades.

Edgar Mba Ognane, Managing Director, Assala Gabon, highlighted upcoming exploration strategies, “We have an ambitious drilling and workover program. We have two workover rigs operating at our assets and we are mobilizing a second drilling unit to monetize all the resources in the ground. We are finalizing the drilling plans, and N’Gongui – a marginal field – will be producing in Q1, 2026. We will also drill an exploration well in 2025.”

For French oil company, Maurel & Prom, Gabon represents a cornerstone of its upstream portfolio. The company produces approximately 16,000 barrels of oil per day and has invested heavily in modernizing production infrastructure. Recent efforts to optimize recovery rates at key onshore blocks underscore Maurel & Prom’s long-term commitment to Gabon’s hydrocarbon sector.

“Gabon has a huge petroleum potential, so it’s important to develop all of this. Gas will become a very important element in the hydrocarbon mix in Gabon. You also need to include communities in the exploration and production projects. We work closely with Gabonese collaborators, bringing them into projects,” shared Olivier de Langavant, CEO, Maurel & Prom.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

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The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

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

 

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Beyond Stabroek: Guyana’s Offshore Basin Attracts New Wave of Exploration Investment

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As ExxonMobil advances appraisal activity in Stabroek and new operators target frontier acreage, Guyana is attracting global capital and building a diversified offshore portfolio designed to sustain long-term growth

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Guyana’s transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers is entering a new phase, with a growing network of IOCs expanding exploration activity across the country’s offshore basin. Beyond the landmark discoveries that first put Guyana on the global energy map, new drilling campaigns and licensing partnerships are creating a broader exploration ecosystem designed to support long-term production growth.

At the center of this momentum is ExxonMobil’s continued exploration and appraisal activity in the prolific Stabroek Block. The company has submitted a proposal for a 35-well exploration and appraisal drilling campaign, expected to run from 2028 through 2033, pending regulatory approval. The program would build on more than 30 commercial discoveries already made in the block, with drilling activity focused on evaluating new prospects and appraising existing discoveries to support future development opportunities.

Exploration activity is also extending into Guyana’s frontier acreage, with ExxonMobil advancing drilling operations at the deepwater Canje Block. The company has deployed the Noble Stena Carron drillship for exploration activity, highlighting continued industry interest in evaluating Guyana’s underexplored offshore potential beyond the established Stabroek Block.

Guyana’s strong exploration outlook comes as the country’s economy continues to benefit from rapid oil sector expansion, with hydrocarbons expected to remain a key driver of exports, government revenues and economic growth. As production scales up, attracting additional investment across exploration, services and infrastructure will be critical to supporting the next phase of development.

That momentum is being reinforced through partnerships established under Guyana’s 2023 offshore licensing round. A consortium comprising TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Petronas is advancing exploration activities in Block S4 under a five-year production sharing agreement signed with the government in late 2025. The award represents one of the first major outcomes of the licensing round and demonstrates continued international confidence in Guyana’s offshore resource potential.

Beyond the largest operators, a diverse group of companies is also expanding activity across Guyana’s offshore basin. Eco Atlantic is advancing exploration at the Orinduik Block; CGX Energy and Frontera Energy are progressing work in the Corentyne Block; Occidental is evaluating opportunities in the Roraima Block; while Ratio Guyana and Cataleya Energy hold interests in the Kaieteur Block. Together, these partnerships are broadening Guyana’s exploration landscape, increasing competition for acreage and creating opportunities for future discoveries.

As Guyana transitions from an emerging producer to a global energy hub, the next challenge will be converting exploration success into sustainable investment, local value creation and regional growth. These opportunities will be explored at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme “Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub.” Bringing together governments, IOCs, investors and technology providers, the event will examine how Guyana’s expanding partnerships can accelerate offshore development, strengthen regional energy cooperation and attract the capital needed to support the Caribbean’s evolving energy landscape.

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

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Energy Capital & Power Establishes London Entity, Expanding Global Platform for Energy and Mining Events

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The move strengthens ECP’s presence in the UK and Europe, and its ability to connect African and South American markets with global investors

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 6, 2026/APO Group/ –International events company Energy Capital & Power (ECP) (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) has officially established its UK entity in London, marking a milestone in the company’s growth strategy and reinforcing its ability to deliver world-class energy and mining events and campaigns in the UK and Europe.

By establishing a presence in a key hub like London – the pre-eminent energy and mining finance center – ECP actively shapes the global energy conversation. The expansion positions ECP to better serve clients, partners and investors seeking to develop business opportunities between Africa, Europe, the Americas and energy markets worldwide.

Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital

The milestone comes as ECP strengthens its reach through a series of investment platforms that connect global capital to energy and mining projects. These include the Venezuela Energy Week London Showcase on July 30 – with over 300 delegates registered – and the annual Invest in African Energy Forum, held in Paris as the premier event connecting global investors to Africa’s energy transformation.

ECP hosts high level summits and investor conferences in leading energy and minerals producing countries in Africa and South America, including: Venezuela Energy Week; Angola Oil & Gas; MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power; African Mining Week; Libya Energy & Economic Summit; Congo Energy & Investment Forum; South Sudan Oil & Power; and Caribbean Energy Week. The company has hosted investor forums and supported licensing round roadshows in Houston, London and Paris since 2016.

“Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital,” states CEO James Chester. “Having a permanent presence in London further cements our footprint in Europe, enabling us to fulfil our mission to bring minerals and energy investment to diverse global markets.”

With teams located across Africa, Europe and the Americas, ECP has long-facilitated strategic engagement, market intelligence and industry convening, uniting investors with leading energy and mining projects.

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

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