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Italy’s National Promotional Institution Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and African Development Bank to invest €400 million in Africa’s Private Sector Growth

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Cassa Depositi e Prestiti

Both financial institutions will support the continent’s economic growth through targeted strategic projects, promote the exchange of information among stakeholders, and facilitate joint investment opportunities

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, July 30, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Investment to support projects in food security, SME development, and sustainable infrastructure growth in Africa, within the framework of the Mattei Plan; Newly established collaborative platform GRaF to mobilise up to €750 million.

Italy’s National Promotional Institution Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and the African Development Bank Group plan to jointly invest up to €400 million over five years, to boost the continent’s private sector growth through the newly established Growth and Resilience Platform for Africa (GRAf).

Under the new collaboration, both financial institutions will support the continent’s economic growth through targeted strategic projects, promote the exchange of information among stakeholders, and facilitate joint investment opportunities.

The new platform is expected to accelerate the implementation of new African private sector initiatives promoted by the private sector in and create a single access point for investment opportunities.

We are establishing a significant new channel to mobilize up to €750 million for projects and initiatives that directly benefit Africa

Each institution will contribute up to €200 million which will be channeled into Africa’s economy through private equity and venture capital funds operating in three main areas, namely food security, local SME growth and sustainable infrastructure. The Growth and Resilience Platform for Africa will mobilise an additional €350 million from other sources and bring the pool of investment capital to €750 million.

These collaborative investments allow future investors to gain new insights into the African private sector and share investment opportunities in funds operating on the continent. The platform is also expected to significantly contribute to job creation and improvements in the delivery of essential products and services across the continent.

The initiative, presented by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the recent G7 summit in Borgo Egnazia, is part of the Mattei Plan for Africa, the Italian strategic initiative unveiled in 2022, to forge a new era of mutual partnership and sustainable development. The Plan will focus on energy cooperation, security and stability, and cultural and scientific exchanges.

According to Dario Scannapieco, CEO and General Manager of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, “Through our renewed collaboration with the African Development Bank Group, we are establishing a significant new channel to mobilize up to €750 million for projects and initiatives that directly benefit Africa. This effort aligns with our government’s commitment through the Mattei Plan. The long-term development of our country is intrinsically linked to the growth of the African continent, particularly its private sector. We are confident that this new partnership will generate substantial opportunities for our businesses in strategic sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and manufacturing, where our country excels.”

The African Development Bank Group has the largest dedicated private equity and venture capital fund-of-Funds in Africa, with over US$1.36 billion committed to 74 private equity and venture capital funds.

Commending the partnership, African Development Bank Group president, Akinwumi Adesina said: “I am delighted with our partnership with the Government of Italy on the Mattei Plan by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The partnership between the African Development Bank Group and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti will boost the achievement of the Mattei plan’s objectives in Africa through the scaling up of support to small and medium scale enterprises in Africa, to expand economic opportunities for women and youth, create jobs and reduce the drivers of migration. We will leverage this strategic partnership to scale up investment in Funds in Africa and give greater confidence to global and African institutional investors to also scale-up their investments.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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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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