CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –Exploration company Rhino Resources has joined the African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 Conference and Exhibition as a Gold Sponsor, reinforcing its role as one of Africa’s emerging independents driving frontier and greenfield exploration across Southern Africa.

 

Scheduled for October 12–16 in Cape Town, AEW 2026 comes as Rhino Resources accelerates exploration activity across Namibia’s Orange Basin while broadening its footprint into South Africa’s Karoo Basin. The sponsorship reflects the company’s strategy to deepen engagement with investors, service providers and policymakers as it advances multiple assets toward development readiness and future final investment decisions.

At the core of Rhino Resources’ upstream momentum is its multi-well deepwater drilling campaign in Namibia’s Orange Basin – one of the world’s most prolific frontier exploration hotspots. The company is targeting FIDs between late 2026 and early 2027 across operated and partner-led assets, including the co-development of the Volans and Capricornus discoveries in Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 85.

Recent drilling results have strengthened the commercial case of these Namibian assets. The Volans-1X well delivered strong gas-condensate flow rates in February 2026, while the earlier Capricornus-1X well confirmed the presence of light oil, positioning Rhino Resources among the key players contributing to Namibia’s ambition of achieving first oil production by 2030.

Beyond Namibia, Rhino Resources is broadening its portfolio through onshore exploration in South Africa’s Karoo Basin. The company is advancing a six-well campaign targeting helium, methane and hydrogen resources in the Free State Province – a move that reflects both geographic diversification and a wider strategy to support a more resilient and diversified regional energy mix.

This expansion comes at a time when Southern African economies face energy security challenges due to ongoing disruptions to global shipping routes, reinforcing the importance of unlocking domestic resource potential to support industrial growth and reduce external vulnerabilities.

Rhino Resources’ role as Gold Sponsor at AEW 2026 therefore comes at a pivotal stage in its growth trajectory. The event provides a platform to showcase its exploration progress, strengthen partnerships and position its projects within the broader African energy investment landscape.

At AEW 2026, Rhino Resources’ executives are expected to participate in high-level panel discussions, offering insights into frontier basin development, cost-efficient exploration strategies and pathways to fast-tracking project commercialization across emerging African markets.

“Rhino Resources represents a new generation of African-focused independents that are willing to take on frontier risk to unlock long-term energy value,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The company’s recent discoveries in Namibia and expanding exploration strategy in South Africa highlight the scale of opportunity across the continent and the critical role independents play in translating resources into production, investment and economic growth.”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –Nigerian integrated energy company Levene Energy has joined the African Energy Week (AEW) Conference and Exhibition as a Gold Sponsor, reinforcing its position as an emerging pan-African energy platform focused on infrastructure expansion, energy access and long-term market diversification.

 

Taking place October 12–16 in Cape Town, AEW 2026 comes as Levene Energy accelerates its transition from a project-focused developer into a long-term energy infrastructure investor with interests spanning upstream, midstream, downstream and renewable energy segments.

A key milestone of this strategy was reached in January 2026 when the company secured a $64 million facility from the African Export-Import Bank to acquire a 30% stake in Axxela Limited. The transaction marks the company’s entry into Nigeria’s regulated gas infrastructure space, strengthening its position in gas processing, distribution and industrial energy supply.

The investment also aligns with Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative, which seeks to monetize the country’s estimated 600 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves while expanding energy access, supporting industrialization and improving access to cleaner cooking solutions nationwide.

Beyond gas infrastructure, Levene Energy continues to strengthen its upstream portfolio. The company holds interests in multiple producing and exploration assets in Equatorial Guinea, including Blocks EG-03, EG-04, EG-19 and Block P, alongside bitumen assets in Nigeria. This upstream footprint supports a broader strategy to increase resource development and supply in response to rising regional demand for hydrocarbons.

At the same time, the company is advancing its renewable energy business as part of a diversified energy mix strategy. Through its subsidiary LPV Technologies, Levene Energy operates a 200 MW solar panel manufacturing facility in Lagos, supporting both rural electrification initiatives and commercial and industrial adoption of solar power. The focus on distributed energy solutions and local manufacturing reflects Levene Energy’s growing emphasis on energy access, grid resilience and local value creation.

“Africa’s energy future depends on building integrated, locally anchored energy systems that can withstand global volatility while delivering reliable and affordable power,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Levene Energy’s expansion across gas, renewables and infrastructure reflect the kind of long-term, value-driven strategy needed to unlock the continent’s full energy potential.”

The company’s participation at AEW 2026 builds on its recognition as a Local Content Champion at AEW 2025, highlighting its commitment to local capacity building, inclusive growth and the development of African-led energy solutions. AEW 2026 provides a platform for the company to engage with policymakers, investors and industry stakeholders to forge new partnerships and advance its regional expansion strategy across Africa’s evolving energy landscape.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –Petralon Energy has been confirmed as a Diamond Sponsor of the African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 Conference and Exhibition – taking place October 12-16 in Cape Town -, as the company continues to advance development activities at the Dawes Island field and expand its role within Nigeria’s upstream sector. With production now established and additional wells progressing toward completion, Petralon is positioning itself for incremental output growth in line with broader efforts to revitalize domestic oil production.

 

This strategy is most visible at the Dawes Island field (PPL 259) in the Niger Delta, where Petralon has moved rapidly from license award in 2022 to first oil in 2026 – one of the fastest timelines in Nigeria’s recent marginal field program. The company has since drilled multiple wells, including DI-2, which is currently producing, and DI-3, which reached total depth in early 2026 and is expected to be brought onstream within the year. A fourth well (DI-4) is planned as part of the next development phase, alongside investments in permanent production facilities.

 

Initial production has already resulted in the evacuation of approximately 158,000 barrels of crude through the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal, marking a tangible step toward sustained output growth. These developments are aligned with Nigeria’s “drill or drop” policy under the Petroleum Industry Act, which is designed to ensure that marginal field licensees translate acreage into production.

 

Beyond operations, Petralon’s progress has attracted notable industry backing. In February 2026, Shell Western Supply and Trading publicly recognized the company’s achievement of first oil, with its role as crude offtaker and co-financier underscoring growing investor confidence in indigenous operators capable of executing projects at pace.

 

Petralon’s activities also reflect a broader structural shift in Nigeria’s upstream sector, where local companies are increasingly taking control of assets previously held by international majors. The Dawes Island development stands out within the current marginal field cycle, where relatively few operators have progressed from license award to sustained production within a comparable timeframe.

 

Looking ahead to 2026–2027, the company is expected to focus on increasing output from existing wells, bringing new wells online and expanding field infrastructure to support long-term production stability. At the same time, Petralon maintains indirect exposure to some of Nigeria’s largest deepwater assets – including Agbami, Akpo and Egina – through its shareholding in Prime Oil & Gas, providing additional scale and diversification within its portfolio.

 

“Indigenous companies like Petralon are demonstrating that Africa’s upstream future will be driven by execution, discipline and long-term commitment to asset development,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Their progress at Dawes Island is a clear example of how local operators are turning policy reforms into production and investment outcomes that strengthen Africa’s energy security.”

 

As AEW 2026 convenes industry leaders in Cape Town, Petralon Energy’s Diamond Sponsorship signals the growing role of indigenous operators in delivering real production growth across the continent. With projects moving from licence to first oil in compressed timelines and new capital flowing into local players, companies like Petralon are helping redefine how Africa’s upstream sector develops in the years ahead.