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Inaugural Global Mediation Summit boosts Hong Kong’s status as a global mediation hub

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Global Mediation Summit

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 May 2026 – The Global Mediation Summit, the first international conference hosted by the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) since its inauguration in Hong Kong last October, was held today (May 8) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event, with the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy as the key sponsors, gathered more than 400 leaders, policymakers and distinguished professionals from 48 countries and regions. They explored frontier topics such as cross-cultural international mediation, financial and investment dispute mediation, and the development of a global mediation ecosystem.

Speaking at the Summit, John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), noted that Hong Kong has long supported mediation.

“Hong Kong is committed to becoming a global mediation capital. And we are well-positioned to do so,” Mr Lee said.

“Under ‘one country, two systems’, Hong Kong is a thriving hub for international finance, shipping and trade. We benefit from our country’s strong support and the opportunities it gives us, while maintaining extensive international connectivity as a world city.

“Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China, our country. And our legal professionals are internationally acknowledged for their professionalism and integrity. And now, as IOMed’s headquarters, Hong Kong is at the very heart of global dispute resolution and its promising future.”

Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR, highlighted the HKSAR Government’s ongoing support for the IOMed in different ways.

“First, it will be responsible for the maintenance of the Headquarters. Second, the DoJ will continue to second Hong Kong legal professionals to the IOMed Secretariat. Since 2023, the DoJ has already seconded a total of four counsel to assist in the establishment of the IOMed. Third, the Government will actively promote the use of IOMed mediation by, among other things, taking the lead in procuring the inclusion of an IOMed mediation clause in suitable international agreements to which the HKSAR Government is a party,” Mr Lam said.

“Hong Kong is well recognised as a leading international legal and dispute resolution services centre. Indeed, one of the mandates stated in the National 15th Five-Year Plan is that Hong Kong shall strengthen its status in this respect.”

Since the IOMed’s inauguration, the number of signatory states has climbed from 37 to 41, while the number of contracting states has gone from eight to 13.

“IOMed is the first inter-governmental international organisation set up by a Convention to promote exclusively the use of mediation,” said Professor Teresa Cheng, Secretary-General of IOMed, in her welcome remarks at the summit. “It fills an institutional gap and brings forth mediation as a true viable alternative to resolving international disputes alongside litigation and arbitration.”

Professor Cheng shared two important developments of the IOMed.

First, a maritime dispute was successfully resolved through mediation administered by IOMed at its Hong Kong Headquarters in early May, just a few days ago. “The case marks an important milestone: it is the first international maritime dispute involving a charterparty chain referred to IOMed for mediation,” Professor Cheng said.

Second, aligning with Hong Kong’s goal to further develop the commodities market, and the intention to stipulate use of IOMed mediation in the related contracts and policy, the Secretariat of IOMed is working with the HKSAR Government and other stakeholders to explore the establishment of a dedicated special panel of mediators for commodities market disputes under the IOMed framework.

The Global Mediation Summit is the finale event of the Mediation Week 2026 held in Hong Kong under the theme of “Mediate First: An Attempt of Mediation, Harvests Abundant Harmony”, with a view to promoting mediation as a friendly way to amicably resolve disputes and conflicts, and to build a more harmonious community.

“Our commitment to mediation, locally and globally, is clear in the five-day Mediation Week programme that ends today with this Summit,” Mr Lee said. “Mediation Week events spotlighted disputes related to schools, sports, neighbourhoods and the elderly. The goal in each case was to apply mediation structure and skills to achieve peaceful and rational solutions to our problems.”
 

Energy

African Mining Week (AMW) Country Focus to Spotlight Liberia’s Iron Ore, Gold and Critical Minerals Prospects

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Etu Energias

African Mining Week 2026 – taking place from October 14 – 16 in Cape Town – will connect global investors with emerging opportunities within Liberia’s mining industry

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 3, 2026/APO Group/ –As Liberia unlocks its untapped mineral wealth through expanded geomapping and exploration campaigns as well as strategic partnerships, the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) – Africa’s Most Influential Mining Conference – will connect global investors and geological technology providers with emerging opportunities across the country.

 

AMW 2026 – taking place on October 14–16 in Cape Town – will feature a dedicated Liberia Country Showcase, providing a platform for government regulators, project developers and international investors to engage on investment and partnership prospects.

The event is timely with Liberia positioning itself as a key supplier of high-grade iron ore amid an anticipated supply deficit of approximately 15 million tons per annum (MTPA) by 2030. The country targets to triple output to nearly 30 Mtpa in 2026. In February 2026, Liberia extended ArcelorMittal’s mineral development agreement for the Tokadeh Mine through 2050, underscoring its commitment to expanding long-term cooperation with international investors to maximize output.

Beyond iron ore, Liberia seeks to unlock its broader critical minerals potential, capitalizing on its estimated 80% of geology that remains unexplored.

Speaking in Cape Town in February 2026, Liberia’s Minister of Mines and Energy Matenokay Tingban emphasized the country’s strategy to unlock its critical minerals potential through exploration across lithium and base metals sectors.

Liberia is also expanding its strategic partnerships to expand industrial-scale gold production. Pasofino Gold strengthened its Liberian footprint through the 2026 acquisition by Mansa Resources: the operator of the Dugbe Gold Project. Meanwhile, Zodiac Gold continues to advance its exploration portfolio in Liberia, supporting the country’s broader mining industrialization strategy.

Liberia’s strategy to expand oil and mining revenues to approximately $4.8 billion in 2026 reflects growing national focus on leveraging extractive industries to drive economic growth while creating investment opportunities for global investors.

Against this backdrop, AMW 2026 will serve as an important platform for Liberian authorities to showcase regulatory reforms and investment incentives designed to attract global capital into the country’s mining sector.

The conference will highlight opportunities spanning Liberia’s entire mining value chain, including geomapping, exploration, production, logistics, mineral processing, trading and mining services.

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

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Energy

Venezuela to Host Its Largest-Ever International Energy Investment Summit

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Venezuela

Caracas will host Venezuela Energy Week 2026 on 26–29 October, convening U.S. and international investors to advance upstream expansion and energy sector investment, with official support from the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and PDVSA

CARACAS, Venezuela, June 3, 2026/APO Group/ –Venezuela will host its largest-ever international energy investment summit on 26–29 October 2026 in Caracas, bringing together U.S., Venezuelan and international oil companies, investors, financiers and technical service providers to advance near-term investment opportunities across the country’s reopening energy sector.

 

Officially supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, Venezuela Energy Week 2026 is designed to accelerate capital deployment across one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon resource bases.

 

Venezuela holds over 300 billion barrels of proven oil reserves – the largest globally – alongside more than 195 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. With current production at approximately 1–1.1 million barrels per day, the government has set a strategic target to restore output toward 3 million barrels per day through phased investment, field rehabilitation and expanded private sector participation.

 

Recent 2026 hydrocarbons reforms are materially reshaping the commercial framework. These include reduced fiscal burdens, expanded production-sharing mechanisms, strengthened arbitration protections and increased operational control for foreign partners. For international investors, these changes signal a shift toward more internationally aligned contract structures and improved capital recovery visibility.

 

The investment case is underpinned by scale, speed-to-market potential and significant brownfield upside. Venezuela’s producing basins – particularly the Orinoco Oil Belt, Maracaibo Basin and Eastern Venezuela Basin – offer a combination of undeveloped mega-projects and mature assets primed for enhanced recovery. Priority opportunities include large-scale developments across the Orinoco Belt, including Junín, Carabobo and Ayacucho; brownfield rehabilitation in the Maracaibo Basin; reactivation of shut-in wells through new drilling programs; and heavy crude upgrading and blending infrastructure to support export growth.

 

In parallel, underutilized refining capacity and constrained midstream infrastructure are opening near-term investment opportunities across rehabilitation, logistics and export systems. Refining capacity of nearly 1.3 million barrels per day is currently operating at roughly 35% utilization, creating immediate opportunities in refinery rehabilitation, midstream logistics, storage and export terminal expansion.

 

Gas monetization is emerging as a key growth segment, with offshore developments such as the Dragon and Cocuina-Manakin fields positioning Venezuela as a future supplier to regional and global LNG markets. Associated gas capture, processing and transport infrastructure remain underdeveloped, offering additional entry points for technical and financial partners.

 

Overall sector rehabilitation is estimated to require up to $100 billion in investment, with approximately $10 billion annually needed over the next decade to restore production capacity, modernize infrastructure and scale exports.

 

Venezuela Energy Week 2026 will feature dedicated investment tracks focused on upstream technical opportunities, commercial structuring, infrastructure integration and digital optimization, including AI-driven field management and energy systems modernization. The program will also include discussions on workforce development and local participation across the evolving oil and gas sector, supported by dedicated Youth in Energy sessions. This track will spotlight emerging talent, early-career professionals and next-generation leadership across the energy value chain, with a focus on skills development, innovation and cross-generational knowledge transfer.

 

With participation from leading industry bodies, the event will align technical expertise with capital deployment strategies, reinforcing its position as a gateway for U.S. and international investors evaluating market re-entry.

 

The program will conclude on 29 October with curated site visits to key upstream and downstream assets, offering investors direct exposure to operational conditions and project readiness across Venezuela’s core producing regions.

 

As global energy markets recalibrate and supply security remains a strategic priority, Venezuela’s reopening presents a high-impact, large-scale opportunity for investors navigating a complex but increasingly investable environment.

The summit is organized by Energy Capital & Power. For participation opportunities:

 

 

For more information, visit www.VenezuelaEnergyWeek.com.

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

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Energy

Etu Energias Strengthens Angolan Footprint, Returns to Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 as Champion Sponsor

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Etu Energias

The company is advancing redevelopment projects, deepwater acquisitions and long-term production targets, reinforcing its position as one of Angola’s fastest-growing indigenous upstream players

LUANDA, Angola, June 1, 2026/APO Group/ –Angolan oil company Etu Energias is making its return to the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition – taking place September 9-10 with a pre-conference day scheduled for September 8 – as a Champion Sponsor, underscoring its expanding role in the country’s upstream landscape. The sponsorship comes as the company accelerates redevelopment campaigns across mature assets, deepens its offshore portfolio and pursues ambitious long-term growth targets aimed at strengthening Angola’s production outlook.

 

Already holding a prominent position within Angola’s oil sector, Etu Energias has implemented a series of 2030 goals centered around strengthening production at mature assets, restoring production and exports at onshore acreage, participating in ‘golden blocks’ and establishing partnerships with international players. These align closely with its own target of reaching 80,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2030 while supporting Angola’s goal of sustaining output above one million bpd in the long-term. Recent milestones reflect these ambitions.

In May 2026, the company – alongside partners Poliedro, Kotoil, Falcon Oil and Prodoi – completed drilling and testing operations at the Espadarte 7ST2 well at Block 2/05 in the Lower Congo Basin. Initial tests showed stabilized production at around 2,000 bpd and 2,500 bpd, reinforcing the commercial viability of the Greater Espadarte – the last development area of the block. The partners are planning to drill one more appraisal well before finalizing the development plan.

At the same time, Etu Energias has continued to strengthen its offshore portfolio through strategic acquisitions. In March 2026, the company acquired a 20% and 10% stake in Block 14 and 14K respectively through a $310 million transaction. The deal was financially backed by Chariot and Shell Western Supply and Trading and marks another step in the company’s transformation from a domestic producer into a more diversified upstream player with exposure across multiple basins and production environments.

Beyond upstream projects, Etu Energias continues to expand its downstream portfolio through the development of service stations across the country. In the local content space, the company invests extensively in workforce development, education and skills transfer. This month, Etu Energias announced the first results of its STEM Program – spearheaded by ADPP Angola with the support of Etu Energias, the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency and its Block 2/05 partners. The $412,000 program strengthens technical and scientific education in the country, with more than 8,000 students set to benefit by 2028.

As a Champion Sponsor of AOG 2026, Etu Energias will join government officials, operators, financiers and technology providers in Luanda to discuss the future of Angola’s oil and gas sector. Taking place at a pivotal moment for the country’s upstream industry, the conference serves as a platform for advancing investment, strengthening partnerships and supporting the exploration and redevelopment activities needed to sustain Angola’s long-term production goals.

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

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