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Gabriel Obiang Lima Delivers Strong Gas Narrative in Exclusive African Energy Chamber (AEC)-Hosted Roundtable Session

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Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima

Speaking during an exclusive roundtable session organized by the African Energy Chamber, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea made a strong case for advancing gas monetization in Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, January 10, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea and the President of both the GECF and OPEC for 2023, gave exclusive insight into Equatorial Guinea’s energy sector during a roundtable session organized by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (http://www.EnergyChamber.org). Moderated by NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, the Minister highlighted the agenda of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and intra-Africa collaboration while providing updates on several Equatorial Guinean energy projects.

The African Energy Chamber is hosting the Invest in African Energy New Year Reception in London at the end of this month. What role do you feel European stakeholders will play in Africa’s energy expansion this year and what key messages do you hope to see driven at the event? 

It is a very wise move for one key reason. London, for many years, has been the single funding supplier for oil and gas in Africa. When we wanted to get money to drill, we went to London. Now I believe there will be a new opportunity for the funding sector in the UK to take the opportunity to invest in Africa. This does not only include oil but gas, and the UK is one of the main consumers of gas. To secure that resource, you need to provide the money for it.

What’s your position on using Equatorial Guinea sovereign funds and investing those funds into an African energy bank?

People need to realize that the creation of a sovereign fund is a privilege for some countries. Our access to sovereign funds is unequal compared to big producers. This solution cannot be an opportunity for every producer. Pension funds in Nigeria compared to Equatorial Guinea are different. Small markets and small producers find it more difficult.

When it comes to OPEC, we saw several countries failing to meet their targets, including Equatorial Guinea. What has been behind that and do you foresee a recovery in the next few months?

Simply put, it’s money. Any oil and gas producing country struggles with funding. Even exploration companies, because to drill wells, they need to raise their own money. Right now, we have close to 64 wells that need to be redrilled, and for this, we cannot find funds. A lot of infrastructure has been designed for a specific period and without funds, we are left with a lot of problems. For us to continue exploring, we need to reinvest. This is where we are finding difficulty. It has nothing to do with oil running out, it is that funding is more limited.

You have pending exploration contracts with companies. Can we expect these to be signed soon?

Yes, we are in the final stages and will be signing shortly. We will be signing and going straight to work.

Now I believe there will be a new opportunity for the funding sector in the UK to take the opportunity to invest in Africa

From an OPEC perspective, do you feel that the current oil price represents a stable market?

Being a volatile year, small incidents are impacting everything. Everyone wants to avoid a recession, and to do that, you need to invest. There will be a lot of demand. China is also opening again after COVID. At this time, we believe that it is important to monitor.

What is the feeling in the group regarding the state of the market? Is there a production target for the year in terms of Zafiro and is there a chance of getting back to the 100,000 bpd?

The sentiment is that there are two issues that we all need to monitor closely. The first is China and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Regarding Zafiro, at this moment, we are reconnecting the wells that were disconnected. We are planning to resume production at the end of February. Other key things include more drilling and more work. Operators need to evaluate the plan of development. Once we have all the data, that’s when we can apply a quota.

Last year you announced the launch of the Central African Pipeline System. What is the status of this multi-faceted project and why do you feel it is so important for the continent in the current day and age? Do you foresee funding being smooth?

It is going according to the plan. 2022 was the year that we needed to inform everyone about the project, and APPO confirmed they will be working on it. We are already working on the first phase. I think the only thing the bankers and financiers are waiting for is the study. Everyone understands the project, they want to see the physical study in terms of supply, demand and where the pipeline will go. The project will be conducted in phases. In future phases, you can interconnect.

Do you have any contractors, finance or operators lined up for Fortuna?

With Fortuna, we already have the discovery and the oil. We cannot just develop one resource without having a long-term view. We have put people in place, but have decided to go back to the drawing room. We need to make sure we continue with exploration. Thereafter, we will once again revise the development. The government wants to make sure we can maximize development.

Equatorial Guinea has also taken over the Presidency of the GECF this year. What are your key objectives in this position?

Regarding the GECF agenda, the organization will play a very important role in Africa for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the President of GECF is an African country, secondly, the Secretary General is an African, thirdly, in Nigeria in November this year there will be a head of state summit of gas producing countries, and lastly, it is a resource that is much-needed across the continent. This year, what will be key is the exportation of gas from Africa such as Mozambique, Senegal and Equatorial Guinea. This is why we have encouraged the GECF team to do the same thing that was done with OPEC at African Energy Week in Cape Town last year, to give a platform to the Secretary General to drive the narrative of gas. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Aurionpro expands its multi-country transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB)

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Aurionpro

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers

MUMBAI, India, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –Aurionpro Solutions Limited (www.AurionPro.com) (BSE: 532668 | NSE: AURIONPRO)a global leader in banking technology, announced the expansion and upgrade of its transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), to modernize and enhance the bank’s corporate transaction banking capabilities across multiple countries.

Download Document: https://apo-opa.co/4edHUaC

This multi-country transaction banking upgrade covering Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania aligns with DTB’s intent to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and support growing transaction volumes as it expands its regional corporate banking footprint. DTB continues to focus on building a more agile, ‘digital-first’ banking experience, particularly around payments for its corporate customers across Africa, and is now well positioned to scale these capabilities. As part of its broader transformation agenda, the bank has been steadily investing in platforms that enhance scale, reliability, and service consistency across markets.

Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers. By enabling DTB to standardize and scale its transaction banking operations across countries, the platform ensures consistent service levels, stronger control, and improved efficiency. It also supports enhanced user experience, advanced security, and the flexibility to introduce new features as DTB expands its regional transaction banking footprint.

Murali Natarajan (https://apo-opa.co/48trPdk), Managing Director & CEO, DTB Kenya   commented: “We are delighted to strengthen and broaden our partnership with Aurionpro Solutions as part of DTB’s ongoing digital transformation journey across multiple markets. Our focus on innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity continues to guide our technology investments. This upgrade strengthens our transaction banking capabilities, enabling us to deliver greater value to our customers through robust digital channels and seamlessly integrated experiences.”

Ashish Rai, Group CEO, Aurionpro Solutions, commented: “We are pleased to deepen our multi-country engagement with Diamond Trust Bank and support the next phase of its transaction banking modernization. As DTB continues to scale across markets, platform resilience and consistency become paramount. Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility, deliver superior experiences to corporate customers, and create long-term value across geographies.”

He added, “Aurionpro’s iCashpro lays a strong digital foundation for transaction & wholesale banks across the globe to grow their corporate and SME client portfolio today, while creating a clear roadmap for next- generation capabilities in AI-driven insights, advanced automation and API-led connectivity for businesses in Kenya and across Africa.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aurionpro Solutions Ltd.

 

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Minerals Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joins African Mining Week (AMW) as South Africa Improves Sectorial Investment Climate

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Energy Capital

Minerals Council CEO to share insights on policy, infrastructure and investment trends shaping South Africa’s mining industry

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference will feature Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council of South Africa, as a speaker. Scheduled for October 14 – 16, 2026 in Cape Town, the event will bring together global investors, policymakers and industry leaders, with Mthenjane’s participation highlighting the council’s commitment to engaging international stakeholders and promoting investment across South Africa’s mining sector.

His participation comes at a critical moment as the Minerals Council works closely with government on finalizing the Mineral Resources Development Bill 2025, a policy framework aimed at strengthening the country’s mining investment climate and the sector’s contribution to GDP. According to the council, the revised legislation will support new investment across the value chain as South Africa seeks to mobilize R2 trillion over the next five years to unlock its critical minerals potential.

The policy reforms come amid shifting production trends in the sector. In 2025, South Africa recorded declines in gold and platinum group metals output of 1.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The new regulatory framework is expected to strengthen public-private partnerships and stimulate investment, enabling South Africa to increase production and capitalize on strong global commodity prices. Increased private sector investments is crucial with South Africa seeking targeting to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in untapped iron ore potential as well as maintain its position as the world’s leading producer of chrome and manganese.

At AMW 2026, Mthenjane is expected to outline these trends, providing insights into how the council is contributing to addressing challenges disrupting the sector. Infrastructure and energy costs remain key concerns for industry players. To support the energy-intensive sector, South Africa approved a 35% reduction in electricity tariffs for major ferrochrome producers, helping stabilize an industry that has faced significant cost pressures after electricity prices surged by roughly 900% since 2008.

Logistics constraints are also a priority area for reform. South Africa’s economy is losing an estimated R1 billion per day due to inefficiencies across rail and port infrastructure. As a result, the government is considering measures supported by the Minerals Council to increase private sector participation in logistics. Planned reforms include rail modernization initiatives targeting 250 million tons of freight capacity by 2029, alongside port upgrades and private operator participation aimed at strengthening mineral exports and improving supply chain efficiency.

Beyond infrastructure and policy reforms, the Minerals Council is advocating for stronger exploration investment to support long-term industry growth.

At AMW, Mthenjane is expected to highlight these developments and outline the steps required to reinforce South Africa’s position in the global minerals supply chain. His insights will offer investors and stakeholders a timely perspective on opportunities within the country’s mining sector.

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

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Seychelles Targets Energy Investment Push as Minister Jérémie Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as a Speaker

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African Energy Chamber

Seychelles energy minister will speak at AEW 2026, positioning her to highlight reforms, renewable projects and investment opportunities as the island nation advances its transition toward a diversified energy system

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 29, 2026/APO Group/ –Marie-May Jérémie, Minister of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources for Seychelles will participate as a speaker at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town. Her participation underscores the country’s growing role in shaping Africa’s small-island energy transition agenda.

Minister Jérémie’s presence at AEW 2026 comes at a critical time as Seychelles accelerates efforts to reduce its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. The event provides a platform to attract investment, strengthen policy alignment and showcase bankable projects, positioning the country as a viable destination for private-sector participation in island energy systems.

Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments

In May last year, international finance institution the World Bank approved the Renewable Energy Acceleration Program, a seven-year initiative aimed at modernizing the grid and increasing renewable energy penetration to 15% by 2030. The program focuses on unlocking private capital while strengthening transmission infrastructure to accommodate variable renewable energy sources.

Project development is gaining traction in the country, particularly in innovative technologies suited to Seychelles’ land constraints. The 5.8 MW Seysun Lagoon floating solar PV project, developed by independent renewable power producer Qair, is under construction and expected online in 2026.

Alongside renewables, Seychelles continues to pursue upstream opportunities to diversify its economy. The government approved new exploration entrants in 2025 and extended exiting petroleum agreements, while securing an infrastructure partnership with China. Multilateral estimates suggest over $800 million in investment will be required over the next 25 years.

Regulatory reform is central to this transition, with Seychelles introducing an independent power producer framework to open the market to private developers. Standardized power purchase agreements, grid access reforms and strengthened public-private partnership structures are being implemented to improve transparency, reduce risk and accelerate project bankability across solar, storage and emerging wind opportunities.

“Minister Jérémie’s participation highlights the strategic importance of island nations in Africa’s broader energy transition,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments. Her insights will be critical to advancing dialogue on resilient, low-carbon energy systems across the continent.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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