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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.

Events

GBA Science Forum 2026 Held Across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao: Driving Collaborative Innovation to Build a Global Sci-Tech Hub

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Science Forum 2026

GUANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 November 2026 – Co-hosted across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao from October 31 to November 2, the 2026 Greater Bay Area (GBA) Science Forum took place with a strong focus on future industries and cutting-edge technologies. Jointly guided by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), this year’s event highlights national strategic leadership to accelerate the implementation of key policies and technological breakthroughs in the region.

 




  

The forum features an opening ceremony, a main forum, 15 specialized sub-forums, and 10 signature events. While the opening ceremony and main forum were held on November 1 in Nansha, Guangzhou, parallel sessions are rolling out across Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Dongguan, and Yangjiang, demonstrating a deeply integrated and synergistic approach to the event across multiple cities.

The opening ceremony witnessed the release of new support measures for the GBA International Sci-Tech Innovation Center, jointly introduced by relevant state ministries and central authorities. A key highlight is the commitment to fortifying the region’s original innovation capacity by supporting the development of a world-class cluster of major sci-tech infrastructures in the GBA. Furthermore, two national key R&D projects under the 15th Five-Year Plan, spearheaded by Guangdong Province, were officially launched: the “Advanced Biotherapeutic Technologies Project” and the “GBA International Sci-Tech Innovation Center Project.”

The ceremony also featured the signing of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Collaborative Innovation Joint Funding Program, as well as major sci-tech cooperation agreements between CAS and Guangdong Province, marking another solid step in translating national strategic visions into concrete actions.

Since its inception in December 2021, the GBA Science Forum has been successfully held for five editions. It has evolved into a premier high-level exchange platform and a vital showcase for the matchmaking and achievements of the GBA International Sci-Tech Innovation Center.

This year’s forum brought together four Nobel laureates, alongside distinguished academicians from home and abroad, young scientists, and leading tech entrepreneurs.

Together, they shared their latest research findings and visionary insights on critical topics, including cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, future technological trends, and the deep integration of scientific and industrial innovation.

In recent years, the GBA International Sci-Tech Innovation Center has demonstrated robust innovation momentum and cultivated a thriving developmental environment. This vitality was globally recognized in September 2026, when the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published its Global Innovation Index 2026 Top 100 Science and Technology Clusters, with the “Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou” cluster securing the number one spot globally once again.

  




 

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Afreximbank Announces Speakers for Africa’s Largest Compliance Forum

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Afreximbank

Bankers, compliance specialists and fintech leaders from more than 40 countries will explore how regulatory cooperation and technology can align compliance approaches, reduce barriers and advance intra-African and global trade

CAIRO, Egypt, November 3, 2026/APO Group/ –Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com) has announced speakers for its 2026 Compliance Forum, Africa’s largest compliance-focused gathering. Discussions will address regulatory fragmentation and barriers across Africa, improve access to correspondent banking services, and explore how technology can strengthen compliance and facilitate cross-border trade

 




  

Organised in partnership with the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), the Forum will take place from 16 to 18 November 2026 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre in Botswana. Discussions will focus on strengthening regulatory cooperation, improving access to financial services and using technology to support effective compliance across African markets.

Confirmed speakers include Governor Lesego Caster Moseki, Bank of Botswana, Dr. Patrick Ndzana Olomo, Ag. Director, Economic Development, Integration and Trade, and Head of Economic Policy and Sustainable Development, African Union Commission (AUC), Luis Koberg, Founder and CEO of Klearium Group; Shane Ridel, CEO of Elucidate, Sophie Barre, Global Head of Risk and Compliance at Wave Mobile Money Group; Mr Mooketsi Ramanteba, Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA), Nellie Nuyoni, Head of Private Sector, CBZ Holdings, Moira Mapundu, Head of Compliance, NMB Bank Limited and Boitumelo William of Continental Reinsurance. Compliance specialists from Dow Jones and Standard Chartered will also participate.

Mr Keletsositse Olebile, Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, said: “Strong and predictable compliance systems build investor confidence, protect institutions, and create the conditions in which trade and enterprise can flourish.”

Under the theme “Better Compliance – Better Trade: Leveraging Compliance to Promote African Regulations that Advance Intra-African Economic and Trade Integration,” the Forum will examine how African markets can make their regulatory systems work more effectively together while preserving national sovereignty.

Idrissa Diop, Compliance Director at Afreximbank, said: “Our banks across Africa operate across very different legal systems, supervisory approaches and levels of digital maturity. Africa does not need uniformity at any cost. It needs interoperability that reduces friction while preserving regulatory sovereignty.

Our banks across Africa operate across very different legal systems, supervisory approaches and levels of digital maturity

“We invite regulators, compliance specialists, banks, fintechs, trade institutions and technology providers from across the continent to come to Gaborone ready to turn shared principles into practical cooperation, because better compliance can and should deliver better trade for Africa.”

The opening session, “Is Better Compliance Leading to Better Trade?”, will assess how regulatory cooperation can facilitate cross-border business. Other sessions will cover anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, sanctions, cybersecurity, consumer protection and the use of artificial intelligence in compliance.

Access to correspondent banking services will be a key focus. Luis Koberg, Founder and CEO of Klearium Group, said: “Many African banks continue to face barriers to accessing correspondent banking services. The reasons given often overlook a fundamental challenge: limited visibility across the payment chain. Improved transparency gives our industry the ability to accurately assess and manage risk, on a case-by-case basis with confidence.”

Delegates will also examine how fintech and risk-based onboarding can extend access to affordable financial services while meeting compliance requirements.

Sophie Barre, Global Head of Risk and Compliance at Wave Mobile Money Group, said: “Fintechs are rewriting the rules of financial inclusion and efficiency. By combining world-class technology with intelligent, risk-based onboarding, they can deliver affordable, simple and reliable services within a compliant ecosystem.”

The Compliance Forum will also feature an exhibition of AI-enabled anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance systems. These demonstrations will let delegates engage with emerging technologies that can strengthen risk detection, monitoring, and reporting.

This Forum comes as artificial intelligence, automation, cybersecurity, third-party risk and diverging regulatory requirements place new demands on financial institutions. These developments reinforce the need for compliance approaches that reflect Africa’s regulatory, economic and institutional realities while drawing on global good practices.

ACF2026 will provide a platform for stakeholders to redefine compliance strategies for a changing financial environment and develop practical approaches that protect institutions while enabling more efficient movement of capital, goods and services across African borders.

For programme details and registration, visit ACF2026 (https://apo-opa.co/4iVtopG)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 




 

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Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Leadership Roundtable Brings Gas Producer Coordination to Paris

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Etu Energias

As African gas producers navigate rising domestic demand, global LNG competition and a renewed push for investment, the GECF Leadership Roundtable at the Invest in African Energy 2027 Forum will examine how greater coordination can support project development, market access and long-term gas monetization

PARIS, France, November 3, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa’s gas industry is entering a period in which cooperation between producing countries could become increasingly important. Demand is rising, LNG markets are being reshaped by geopolitical disruptions and new supply, while major gas developments across the continent continue to compete for capital.

 




  

Against this backdrop, the GECF Leadership Roundtable at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum 2027 in Paris will bring the perspectives of gas-producing countries into a discussion focused on the commercial and strategic priorities shaping the sector.

The session comes as Africa continues to expand its role in global LNG markets. The GECF forecasts LNG exports from the continent to reach about 110 billion cubic meters (bcm), or 80 million tons per annum (mtpa), by 2030, rising to 215 bcm, or 160 mtpa, by 2050. The outlook spans producers including Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Mauritania, Senegal and Nigeria, while GECF projections point to growing LNG trade with Asia and within African markets.

Recent developments have reinforced the strategic value of that supply base. Tanzania’s long-delayed $42 billion LNG project has gained renewed attention as disruptions to Middle Eastern gas supplies have increased the value of diversified LNG sources, while ExxonMobil is advancing preparations for Mozambique’s Rovuma LNG project after years of delay.

For African producers, however, expanding exports is only one part of the equation. Domestic gas demand is rising at the same time that governments are seeking to use gas to improve electricity supply, support industrial development and create new revenue streams. That creates a need to balance export projects with domestic offtake, pipeline infrastructure, gas processing and gas-to-power development.

Coordination between producing countries can help address some of these challenges. Sharing experience on fiscal frameworks, project development, infrastructure and market access can help governments compete for investment while strengthening the case for regional gas infrastructure and cross-border trade.

The global market is also becoming more competitive. Reuters reported this month that gas and LNG infrastructure investment is expanding across multiple regions, with Asia accounting for the largest share of planned LNG import capacity. At the same time, disruptions to Middle Eastern supply have reinforced concerns around security of supply and increased the strategic importance of alternative producers. That creates an opening for African gas producers, but converting that opportunity into projects will require capital, infrastructure and credible long-term markets.

The GECF Leadership Roundtable at IAE 2027, taking place in Paris from May 11-13, will provide a senior-level setting to examine those issues alongside the investors and project developers needed to advance them. The wider forum is designed to connect African energy markets with global capital, with a focus on projects spanning gas, LNG, infrastructure and power.

For African gas producers, the question is how effectively its resources can be developed, connected to markets and converted into reliable energy and industrial growth. The Paris roundtable will put producer coordination at the center of that investment conversation.

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

 

 




 

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