Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Mantashe to Highlight South Africa’s Ambitious Plans for Oil and Gas Development at African Energy Week (AEW) 2024

Published

2 years ago

on

African Energy Week

South Africa offers a plethora of investment opportunities for companies across the oil, gas and power infrastructure sectors

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 11, 2024/APO Group/ — 

South Africa released its draft Gas Master Plan (GMP) – a policy instrument that aims to establish a secure supply of gas by diversifying options from local and international markets – in April 2024, outlining projected demand, infrastructure requirements and targeted capacity. The GMP supports policies such as the Gas Integrated Power Producer Procurement Program, which targets 2 GW of new generation capacity to be derived from land-based gas-fired power facilities. As a frontier hydrocarbon market, South Africa offers a wealth of prospects for companies in exploration, production and infrastructure development.

To attract investment in South African oil and gas, South Africa’s Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Gwede Mantashe has joined the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference – taking place November 4-8 in Cape Town. Minister Mantashe’s return to the conference aligns with national efforts to drive oil and gas development across the country as the government strives to advance energy security and country-wide industrialization.  

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

It is great to see companies entering the South African side of the Orange Basin but much more needs to be done to maximize the country’s oil and gas reserves

Given the pressing need to bring new energy sources online in South Africa, the government is promoting investment in frontier exploration. Offshore, proven potential in neighboring Namibia has further enhanced the attractiveness of the South African Orange Basin. A string of billion-barrel finds were made in Namibia between 2022 and 2024 and a combination of independent and major energy companies have recently farmed-in to South African blocks in the hopes of unlocking similar discoveries.

Energy majors TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy acquired participating interestes in Block 3B/4B this year. The transaction provides the companies with a 33% stake and a 24% stake, respectively. Additionally, oil and gas exploration company Eco Atlantic – through its wholly owned subsidiary Azinam South Africa – signed a farm-in deal for a 75% working interest in South Africa’s Block 1, also situated in the Orange Basin. The company assumed operatorship of the block, which is estimated to be one of the largest in the basin. These transactions are just the start, with South Africa’s offshore basins offering a rich combination of undeveloped and unexplored acreage.

Onshore, South Africa is making great strides towards leveraging gas resources for both power generation and fuel-related purposes. The country’s shale formations in the Karoo Basin are estimated to hold as much as 209 trillion cubic feet of gas resources, making it a highly attractive onshore play. Several projects are underway. Independent E&P company Panoro Energy applied for an exploration right for helium and natural gas in the basin in June 2024. This project scope comprises a three-year work program and will enhance the geological understanding of the basin. Additionally, gas explore Kinetiko Energy is progressing with a five-well gas flow testing program in the Mpumalanga province, expected to start in Q3, 2024. The campaign aims to identify high-flow rate gas zones in exploration rights 271 and 270.

Beyond exploration, South Africa is seeking partners to invest in energy-related infrastructure, including hydrogen, power generation and transmission, refining and distribution. Gas-to-power has been identified as a priority industry for the country, given rising power demand and emerging resource potential. The country’s Integrated Resource Plan 2023 – a comprehensive plan to bring new generation capacity online – shows that South Africa requires between 7.2 GW and 8.6 GW of new gas-to-power capacity to support industrialization and electrification efforts. This highlights a strategic opportunity for both upstream players and downstream investors.

“To address its energy crisis, South Africa needs natural gas. Exploration campaigns in both onshore and offshore basins have made clear the significant reserve potential in the market. Yet, lack of investment continues to hinder development in the sector, further restricting the country’s efforts to enhance energy security. It is great to see companies entering the South African side of the Orange Basin but much more needs to be done to maximize the country’s oil and gas reserves,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Minister Mantashe’s return to the AEW: Invest in African Energy conference underscores a commitment by the ministry to maximize the development of the country’s oil and gas resources. During the conference, Minister Mantashe will connect with investors, technology providers and regional counterparts while driving discussions on investment opportunities, regulatory support and national energy priorities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Energy

Welligence Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 as Associate Sponsor as Angola Enters New Production Cycle

Published

1 minute ago

on

September 1, 2026

By

Etu Energias

As gas commercialization, deepwater developments and a shifting exploration landscape reshape Angola’s upstream sector, Welligence will bring its market intelligence expertise to the Angola Oil & Gas 2026 Conference and Exhibition

LUANDA, Angola, August 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Angola’s upstream industry is entering a new investment cycle, with gas commercialization, deepwater development, renewed exploration activity and an expanding independent operator base creating new opportunities across the market. Against this backdrop, energy intelligence firm Welligence has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Conference and Exhibition as an Associate Sponsor.
 




 

Welligence provides upstream intelligence covering assets, reserves, production, economics, mergers and acquisitions and emerging investment opportunities, combining analyst expertise with data and AI-driven analytics. Its platform includes more than 4,000 asset-level reports and a database covering 40,000 M&A transactions, supporting companies evaluating upstream markets and investment decisions.

Angola represents an increasingly dynamic market for this type of intelligence. Welligence has identified the country’s upstream sector as entering a new phase of growth and repositioning, supported by gas developments, new oil projects, renewed exploration and rising activity among independent operators.

On the gas front, the start of Angola’s first non-associated gas project, led by the New Gas Consortium, is paving the way for increased feedstock supply to Angola LNG. Meanwhile, the country’s landmark dedicated gas discovery at Block 1/14 in 2025 has strengthened the role of gas commercialization within Angola’s broader upstream strategy.

At the same time, new oil developments are supporting production growth, although Welligence highlights the continued need for greenfield investment as mature assets decline. Recent milestones include the start-up of the Begonia and CLOV Phase 3 projects in 2025, the commissioning of the Agogo FPSO last August and continued progress at the Kaminho project, which is expected to begin production in 2028.

The operator landscape is also evolving. Welligence has highlighted renewed exploration activity by international majors alongside growing participation from independent companies, particularly as Angola’s onshore sector opens and operators seek to reactivate mature assets and build new portfolios.

Recent transactions reinforce this trend. Equinor entered TotalEnergies’ Block 17 in June 2026, while Afentra expanded its onshore footprint through operatorship of KON 5. Woodside Energy’s three-block deal signed in May further underscored growing confidence in Angola’s frontier opportunities, while Etu Energias strengthened its position through acquisitions in Blocks 14 and 14K.

These shifts are increasing the importance of reliable market intelligence as companies assess acreage, transactions, project economics and production potential. Welligence’s participation at AOG 2026 comes at a time when investors and operators are seeking greater visibility into the opportunities shaping Angola’s next phase of upstream growth.

As Associate Sponsor, Welligence will contribute an analytical perspective to discussions at AOG 2026, where industry leaders will examine the investments, partnerships and strategies driving Angola’s energy sector forward. With new entrants entering the market and established operators advancing major developments and exploration programs, data-driven insights will remain critical to guiding future investment decisions.

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

 




 

Continue Reading

Business

Global Finance Leaders Target Angola’s Investment Gap at Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026

Published

3 minutes ago

on

September 1, 2026

By

Etu Energias

Standard Bank, Premier Invest, Africa Finance Corporation and Banco BAI will bring financing expertise to AOG 2026 as Angola seeks to mobilize capital for upstream projects, infrastructure and local companies

 




 

LUANDA, Angola, August 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Mobilizing capital for Angola’s next oil and gas investment cycle will be a key focus at the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Conference and Exhibition, as the country seeks to attract both international and domestic capital across its evolving energy value chain. Executives from leading financial institutions and investment firms have joined the AOG speaker lineup, bringing perspectives on corporate finance and investment trends to the Luanda conference.

 

Angolan financial institution Banco Angolano de Investimentos (BAI) – a Silver Sponsor of AOG 2026 – is expanding its role in financing the country’s energy sector as domestic banks take on greater responsibility for supporting projects and local companies. The bank provides corporate and investment banking services spanning project finance, structured finance and capital markets. Its participation comes as Angolan lenders increasingly target mid-sized developments, onshore projects and indigenous companies that can face greater difficulty accessing international capital. CEO Luís Filipe Rodrigues Lélis will share insights into the role of local banks in building Angolan oil and gas entrepreneurs, bringing financing into discussions around strengthening local participation across the industry.

https://apo-opa.co/4y55eOq

Standard Bank brings significant oil and gas financing experience to the conference. In 2024, the bank served as underwriter and bookrunner on a $1.3 billion pre-export finance facility for national oil company Sonangol. In Angola, the bank also offers contract financing, purchase-order finance and invoice discounting for oil and gas businesses. Executive Director, Business & Commercial Banking Fernando Chivinda will participate at AOG 2026 as access to finance remains central to both large-scale project development and the growth of Angolan companies across the value chain.

https://apo-opa.co/4y95qwg

Premier Invest brings experience in structuring transactions and connecting global capital with African energy projects. Led by Founder and Managing Partner René Awambeng, the investment firm advises on and structures transactions across the energy value chain, working with global investors and regional financial institutions to mobilize capital for projects. Awambeng will participate at AOG 2026 as Angola seeks to broaden its sources of capital and connect project developers with investors capable of advancing opportunities toward bankability and execution.

https://apo-opa.co/4y8Aufy

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), meanwhile, brings an established investment footprint in Angola. The multilateral finance institution has invested close to $1 billion across the country’s power, rail, logistics and critical minerals sectors and is an Elite Sponsor of AOG 2026. In oil and gas, AFC invested $60 million as part of a $190 million debt facility supporting Etu Energias’ acquisition of interests in offshore Blocks 14 and 14K, a transaction that doubled the independent’s net production at the time from approximately 9,000 to 19,000 barrels per day. AFC Vice President for Investment Taiwo Okwor and Senior Associate for Energy Resources Tobi Edun will participate at AOG 2026, bringing experience in structuring and mobilizing capital as Angola seeks financing for energy projects and associated infrastructure.

https://apo-opa.co/4y525xV

Taking place September 9–10, with a pre-conference day scheduled for September 8, AOG 2026 will connect financial institutions and advisers with operators, government and entrepreneurs to advance commercially viable projects across the energy value chain. Visit www.AngolaOilandGas.com for more information.

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

 




 

Continue Reading

Business

Five Years After Expansion, Qianhai Opens a New Chapter in Institutional Opening-Up

Published

1 hour ago

on

September 1, 2026

By

Hong Kong

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – September 6 marks the fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the Plan for Comprehensive Deepening Reform and Opening Up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone (“Qianhai Plan”). Just days earlier, on August 26, Qianhai celebrated its 16th anniversary. Coming one after another, the two milestones provide a window through which to view the development of this 120.56-square-kilometer area. On August 20, the Authority of Qianhai announced that since its expansion in 2021, Qianhai’s regional GDP had risen from 175.57 billion yuan to 331.81 billion yuan, while total imports and exports had grown from 378.05 billion yuan to 757.43 billion yuan — both figures nearly doubling or more than doubling.
Behind these numbers is the sheer scale of institutional innovation. As a frontline of China’s opening-up, Qianhai has continued to introduce and refine policies, with 111 institutional innovation outcomes now replicated and promoted nationwide. The General Administration of Customs has introduced two rounds of dedicated support policies to address the challenges facing Qianhai’s development. Qianhai was the first in China to pilot a customs model featuring “direct access at the first line and smart connected supervision”, allowing goods to be directly released at the port, with declaration and inspection carried out after they arrive at the comprehensive bonded zone. The number of items required in customs declarations has also been reduced from dozens to just over ten.
 




 
The progress in Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation is even more visible. The number of Hong Kong-funded enterprises has grown from more than 8,000 in 2021 to over 11,000 today. Technology commercialization platforms established by five Hong Kong universities have successively begun operations in Qianhai, incubating 193 projects in total.

Gary Wong Chi-him, a Hong Kong resident working at the Qianhai Authority, has experienced these changes firsthand. He said that more and more people from Hong Kong have been coming to Qianhai over the past five years. “There’s a saying in Shenzhen: once you come, you’re a Shenzhener. I felt that sense of belonging from my very first day,” he said. “Qianhai has created an environment where Hong Kong and Shenzhen are deeply intertwined. Even while living and working in Qianhai, you can still feel the atmosphere of Hong Kong, so I had no difficulty settling in.”

Jacqueline Ho, CEO of Hong Kong-funded sci-tech innovation company Synovate Technologies, said the company set up at the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub in 2019 and has benefited from its ongoing talent recruitment services. “Qianhai has helped us connect with upstream and downstream partners such as Siemens, allowing us to establish a foothold in the hard-tech sector in a short time,” she said. The company has obtained around 50 independent intellectual property rights to date and was named to the Forbes China Emerging Tech T30&30 Selection this year. Qianhai is now home to 532 key AI enterprises, including SmartMore Information Technology, Pony.ai and Fengyi Technology, among a growing group of companies that have established and expanded their businesses here.

For Lin Zhifeng, General Manager of China (Qianhai) Internet Exchange, the most notable sign of Qianhai’s growing international reach was the establishment of the China Center for Promoting APEC Data Cross-Border Flow Cooperation at the end of July. The center he works is the only national-level Internet exchange center in South China. In the five years since its establishment, it has served more than 270 enterprises. Its Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cross-Boundary Data Validation Platform has helped mainland SMEs secure more than HK$260 million in financing in Hong Kong. Its secure and convenient cross-border data channel has benefited more than 300,000 Hong Kong residents, making it easier for them to transfer medical records across the border after receiving treatment in Shenzhen.

Five years into its expansion, Qianhai has gradually established a clearer path toward institutional opening-up. Every breakthrough reflects the same underlying approach: turning institutional differences into new opportunities created by opening-up, and translating the alignment of rules from paper into practice. “Qianhai, Pulse with the World” is more than a city slogan; it is a vivid testament to the five years of reform and opening-up in this dynamic part of Shenzhen.

  




 

Continue Reading

Trending