On track to become a regional petroleum hub, Angola offers a wealth of investment opportunities across its downstream industry

LUANDA, Angola, September 9, 2024/APO Group/ — 

As sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest oil producer, Angola is strategically positioned to become a regional hub for petroleum distribution. Over 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of refining capacity is planned in the country, while cross-border pipeline infrastructure and regional trade systems aim to further consolidate Angola’s regional role.

During the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference & exhibition – taking place October 2-3 in Luanda – speakers from across the Angolan and regional downstream sectors will discuss the country’s project pipeline. Through their participation in panel discussions and roundtables, downstream speakers will provide insight into the strategies underway to position Angola as a regional hub. Insight will also be shared into the challenges associated with intra-African trade and the untapped investment opportunities available across the country.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Angola anticipates the first phase of the Cabinda refinery to come online by the end of 2024, targeting 30,000 bpd of capacity. Set to be fully operational by 2025, the facility will have a total capacity of 60,000 bpd. Shortly thereafter in 2025, both the Lobito Refinery – set to be the largest in the country once commissioned – and the Soyo refinery will also start production. Lobito will have a capacity of 200,000 bpd while Soyo has a capacity of 100,000 bpd.

As Angola enhances its refining capacity, the country is looking at strengthening intra-African petroleum trade. Organizations such as the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) – the first pan-African organization for the downstream oil sector – offer a platform for improved interaction between African refiners and distributors while facilitating engagement between global investors and African downstream opportunities. Angola’s national oil company Sonangol is a member of ARDA, and during AOG 2024, ARDA’s Chief Executive Secretary Anibor (Ohiole) Kragha will discuss the implications of the country’s refining projects.

As Angola ramps up its refining capacity, local retailers will have a greater role to play in distributing petroleum. Fuel retailer Pumangol, for example, is committed to strengthening fuel security in the country. The company was taken over by Sonangol in 2021, aligning its goals with that of the nation’s. At AOG 2024, Pumangol CEO Ivanilson Machado will share insight into these objectives as well as what the future looks like for Angola’s downstream sector.

Beyond oil, Angola is making great strides towards becoming a hub for LNG. The country’s sole LNG facility, Angola LNG (ALNG), delivered its 400^th cargo in 2023 and serves as a driver of gas monetization in the country. While sub-Saharan Africa’s LNG trade infrastructure remains in its infancy stage, the region could greenlight up to 74 million tons of LNG per year by 2030, highlighting significant opportunities for regional trade. During AOG 2024, Tania Silv, CEO of ALNG Marketing, will unpack Angola’s future role as a regional LNG supplier.

Meanwhile, as a specialist consulting company, CITAC supports projects across the African downstream industry. In Angola, the company supports project development by offering a wealth of knowledge to assist clients in unlocking business potential. The company’s services range from training and consultancy to market reports and data analysis, supporting investments and driving industry expansion. Elitsa Georgieva, Executive Director at the CITAC is speaking at the AOG 2024 conference this October. Georgieva is also leading a workshop during the AOG 2024 pre-conference technical program on October 1 on Demand and Supply Trends for Refined Production in Africa.

For more information about the AOG 2024 program, visit https://apo-opa.co/3ZhkKbW.

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

This partnership comes at a critical time, as Africa’s creative industry is undergoing rapid expansion, with African art, music, fashion, and film gaining increasing international attention

LONDON, United Kingdom, September 9, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The Royal African Society (RAS) of the United Kingdom (www.RoyalAfricanSociety.org), a leading organisation promoting Africa’s global influence and APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, renowned for its expertise across the continent, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership. This collaboration will enhance RAS’s mission to celebrate African culture and achievements through prominent events, including its key annual events, the Film Africa Festival (www.filmafrica.org), and the prestigious Royal African Society Benefit Gala (https://apo-opa.co/4d4rz3z). APO Group will support RAS’s events and initiatives as the official public relations partner through press release distribution, media monitoring, and strategic communications.

Commenting on the partnership, APO Group’s Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com) said, “This collaboration represents a powerful opportunity to elevate Africa’s cultural and professional presence on a global scale. The creative industry is one of Africa’s most vibrant and rapidly growing sectors, and by partnering with the Royal African Society, we can amplify the voices of talented African creatives shaping the continent’s future. Africa’s vast landscape of stories, whether through film, music, fashion, or art, deserves to be shared with the world, and we believe that our strategic expertise will help the Royal African Society to forge a deeper connection between African culture and the global community.”

“This partnership will help us expand our reach and continue celebrating Africa’s rich culture on the world stage,” said Janet Rogan, CEO of the Royal African Society. “With APO Group’s support, we look forward to engaging a wider audience and showcasing Africa’s incredible talent, creativity, and opportunities.”

This partnership will help us expand our reach and continue celebrating Africa’s rich culture on the world stage

Celebrating Africa’s Creativity

The Royal African Society has long worked to promote understanding, appreciation, and dialogue about Africa’s role in global politics, society, and culture. The Society will expand its reach with this new partnership, ensuring African stories and achievements gain broader international recognition and impact. APO Group’s communications expertise will play a crucial role in this, helping to boost the visibility and impact of RAS’s cultural and professional events, thereby strengthening the connection between Africa and global audiences, particularly in the United Kingdom.

This partnership comes at a critical time, as Africa’s creative industry is undergoing rapid expansion, with African art, music, fashion, and film gaining increasing international attention. Events like the Royal African Society’s Film Africa Festival, scheduled for 25th October – 03rd November 2024, which showcases contemporary and classic African cinema in London, highlight the continent’s artistic talent.

This prestigious festival brings together an impressive array of films that highlight both traditional storytelling and cutting-edge narratives from across the continent. By giving a stage to African filmmakers, Film Africa is instrumental in bringing authentic stories to international audiences, promoting cross-cultural dialogue and enhancing the global perception of Africa’s creative industries.

The 2024 Royal African Society Benefit Gala, scheduled for 22nd November 2024 at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), will be a celebration of this creativity, paying tribute to prominent global artists, creatives, and cultural influencers.

The event will feature a keynote address on the “Power of Narrative”, along with an exclusive Gala dinner, a Sotheby’s-run auction supported by Artsy, and vibrant cultural performances. Preceding the dinner, a networking session will offer attendees the chance to connect with industry leaders, innovators, and professionals, forging new partnerships and professional growth. The Gala will also include an awards ceremony, honouring outstanding achievements across categories, such as Business Excellence, Philanthropy, Activism, and Creative Innovation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Royal African Society.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 September 2024 – The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust convened its fourth Philanthropy for Better Cities (PBC) Forum 2024 at West Kowloon Cultural District today (9 September). It ushered in Hong Kong Philanthropy Week, in keeping with the HKSAR Government’s mission to promote the city as an international philanthropy hub.

The two-day PBC Forum provides a platform for foundations, thought-leaders, policymakers, non-governmental organisations and experts from around the world to convene, engage in dialogue and share transformative ideas on translating philanthropic action into tangible, sustainable impact. Under an overarching theme of “Delivering Impactful Philanthropy in the Real World”, the forum features keynote speeches and panel discussions. It brings together nearly 100 eminent speakers and more than 2,000 delegates from 40 countries and regions including representatives of over 200 local, regional and global foundations.

The Club’s Charities Trust convened the forum in association with the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), a charitable organisation launched by the Club and its Trust at the opening of the third PBC Forum in September 2023.

Through a video address at the forum, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said, “This forum is testament to Hong Kong’s commitment to philanthropy. It is proudly presented by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust, a long-standing leader in championing our philanthropic endeavours.” He added, “The HKSAR Government is committed to Hong Kong’s rise as a global centre for philanthropy. That goal was formalised in our Policy Statement on Developing Family Office Businesses in Hong Kong. Our vision is to provide philanthropists with the tools they need to manage their wealth, while channelling their resources into social initiatives that create tangible impact. We are determined to realise Hong Kong as a go-to destination for global family offices passionate about making a difference.”

Officiating at the opening ceremony of this year’s forum was HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki, the Club’s Chairman Michael Lee and Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

In his welcome speech at the opening ceremony, the Club’s Chairman said, “In Asia – home to the most populous nations and fastest-developing economies – we are experiencing rapid growth in philanthropic giving commensurate with the region’s rising prosperity through development. However, Asian philanthropy requires properly contextualised models and solutions to account for varied political, economic and cultural contexts that are different from established, largely Western models. Unlocking its full potential will be crucial in addressing shared social and environmental challenges most effectively.”

Leading foundations participating in this year’s PBC Forum include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Nippon Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Tanoto Foundation, Temasek Foundation, Tencent Charity Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.

Julia Gillard – Chair of the Wellcome Trust, Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and former Prime Minister of Australia – delivered today’s opening keynote entitled: “East is East and West is West: how does philanthropy differ and how can we best work together?”

Professor Michael Spence – 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economics, Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean Emeritus of the Stanford Business School and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution of Stanford University – delivered the second keynote entitled: “The economics of giving: what makes us give? What stops us from giving more?”

Additionally at the forum, representatives from the Department of Health of the HKSAR Government, the Club and IoP witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration between the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and three local universities to strengthen capacity for monitoring and responding to epidemics in the Greater Bay Area. The local institutes are the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute at the University of Hong Kong, the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science at the City University of Hong Kong. The memorandum follows the “One Health” approach which the Club has long supported including through the establishment of these university institutes.

This year the forum programme spans five days. It began with a welcome luncheon at the opening of Hong Kong’s 2024/25 horseracing season on 8 September, followed by the two- day forum. The Foundations Circle and additional side-events will be convened by IoP on 11 and 12 September. In addition, the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy will also host a three-day summit from 12-14 September, rounding out Hong Kong Philanthropy Week.

The Club’s support for the PBC Forum, like all of its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for the community.