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Namibia and Equatorial Guinea Youth-Focused Local Content, Gas Monetization a Boost for Intra-African Energy Growth

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Energy Growth

Following an agreement forged during the Namibian International Energy Conference in 2022, a youth training initiative launched by Namibia and Equatorial Guinea has set the tone for an ambitious local content drive that will position Namibia as a competitive hydrocarbon producer

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, January 4, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Namibia, as an upcoming hydrocarbon producer, and Equatorial Guinea, as one of Africa’s top natural gas producers, have taken the lead towards positioning Africa as a globally competitive oil and gas producer, leveraging intra-African partnerships and cooperation to scale up the local workforce.

Following sizable oil and gas discoveries made in Namibia in 2022, the two countries forged an agreement during the Namibian International Energy Conference (NIEC) 2022 that saw four Namibian engineers receive training at the Equatorial Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas (EG LNG) facility. This program has been significant, both for Namibia’s future oil and gas industry and for Africa’s energy sector at large, and the African Energy Chamber (AEC) commends both countries on this bold initiative. 

During the NIEC 2022, Hon. Tom Alweendo, Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, announced the training partnership with H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons. Hon. Minister Alweendo visited Equatorial Guinea and worked with his counterpart to kick off the training of Namibians.

To date, four Namibian engineers have received training at EG LNG, owned by Marathon Oil, Chevron and the Equatorial Guinean government. In addition to receiving exploration and production training at the facility, the engineers were trained at the associated Methanol Facility and the Turbo Gas Facility at the Punta Europa Complex.  

It is good to see energy companies in Equatorial Guinea taking the lead in the training and development of Namibian youth

The Namibian engineers also received training on various operational matters from British independent Trident Energy, known for operational efficiency and production improvements. Trident is the operator of Block G, which includes the producing Ceiba and Okume Complex fields — made up of six oil fields in the Gulf of Guinea, in shallow and deep water in the Rio Muni basin.

This training has not only signaled a new era of intra-African energy collaboration and partnerships but has opened up significant opportunities for Namibia to position itself as a globally competitive oil producer on the back of south-south cooperation. 

With both countries having placed local content at the center of their developmental strategies, this training initiative marks the start of a new era of hydrocarbon growth in Africa on the back of cooperation and collaboration. Long-term, Equatorial Guinea is committed to establishing itself as a regional energy hub, leveraging ambitious local content initiatives to develop a strong and competitive hydrocarbon market in-country. Similarly, Namibia, at the start of its hydrocarbon journey, has recognized the role local content will play in making energy poverty history while kick starting industrialization and economic prosperity. As such, the country has introduced proactive local content policies, with the Equatorial Guinean training initiative only furthering this agenda.

“It is good to see energy companies in Equatorial Guinea taking the lead in the training and development of Namibian youth. EG LNG, Trident Energy, Chevron, Marathon Oil should be given huge credit, incentive and encouraged to do more. It is important for young Africans. Energy companies are our partners, and we must support them as we push for Namibian energy growth,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the AEC.

The training initiative followed Shell’s Graff-1 discovery and TotalEnergies Venus discovery made merely weeks apart in February 2022, unlocking up to four billion barrels of recoverable reserves combined. The discoveries were significant, with their associated developments set to double Namibia’s GDP by 2040. Shortly thereafter, the country took a proactive approach to get advanced training from U.S. and regional firms, with the government eager to bring these projects online as soon as possible. In this scenario, Equatorial Guinea emerged as the obvious partner, with the country hosting a suite of global energy majors and large-scale hydrocarbon developments alike.

Owing to sizeable domestic oil and gas reserves, as well as an accelerated drive by the government to monetize regional untapped reserves, Equatorial Guinea has put in motion a series of large-scale projects such as the Punta Europa LNG Terminal – comprising Train 1, producing 3.7 million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG, and Train 2, set to produce up to 4.4 mtpa once completed – the wider Punta Europa Gas Complex – comprising Methanol and Turbo Gas Facilities – and the Central African Pipeline System. These projects have enabled the country to export gas worldwide, with Equatorial Guinea serving as a key supplier of gas to Europe in the ongoing gas crisis. In this scenario, companies such as Marathon Oil, Sonagas, ExxonMobil and Panoro have been key, and offer Namibia unparalleled insight into developing and operating large-scale projects.

“What Minister Alweendo and Obiang Lima have done should be commended. They have demonstrated the role that intra-African energy cooperation will play in Africa’s energy future. Equatorial Guinea, with its expertise as an oil and gas player, offers Namibia the knowledge and training that the country needs to develop a thriving domestic oil and gas industry. Through this training initiative, both countries have prioritized local content, developing the local industry and getting young people ready to lead oil and gas exploration and production. At the AEC, we are proud to see what Namibia and Equatorial Guinea are doing and want to see more African states following suit,” concluded Ayuk.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Week (AEW).

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Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory on Issyk-Kul Launched in Kyrgyzstan

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Tamchy

By 2035, Tamchy aims to attract around 4,000 resident companies and create over 10,000 jobs. The expected contribution of Tamchy to the country’s economy between 2026 and 2035 is estimated at $20 bn

TAMCHY, Kyrgyzstan, July 4, 2026/APO Group/ –The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, has inaugurated the Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (SFIT) (www.TamchySFIT.com), a new international jurisdiction on the shores of alpine Lake Issyk-Kul. The first residents of Tamchy, who joined during the launch ceremony, were companies from South Korea, the UAE, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Kazakhstan. Twenty companies from across the globe are in the process of establishing residency at Tamchy SFIT.

 

The ceremony culminated with President Japarov symbolically activating a geotag-shaped switch, thus putting Tamchy SFIT, quite literally, on the global financial map.

Changes in the global economy are driving demand for new centers of business activity where international standards are supported by true freedom of innovation and long-term investment. Tamchy SFIT is our national project and our response to the needs of international businesses. We are building a financial center from scratch — with an independent court, a modern regulator, and rules that won’t change with shifting trends.I have no doubt that Tamchy SFIT will open a new chapter in the history of Kyrgyzstan,” said President Japarov.

Operating on the principles of English common law, Tamchy SFIT has its own financial regulator, an International Dispute Resolution Centre, and a single-window digital registrar. A special tax regime guarantees a 0% rate of tax on profits, dividends, capital gains, and VAT for 49 years and allows 100% foreign ownership and unrestricted profit repatriation.

 

Covering an area of about 6,000 ha, Tamchy SFIT can already boast a fully operational business center, while hotels and residential buildings are under construction. Issyk-Kul International Airport is within walking distance.

Tamchy SFIT is our national project and our response to the needs of international businesses

 

Great financial centres are built by understanding what international capital and businesses require. Tamchy SFIT offers exactly that — a trusted, flexible, and investor-ready platform for businesses seeking sustainable growth. Benchmarked to international gold standards, grounded in English common law, and positioned at the intersection of five EAEU economies and the Eurasian corridor, it offers a jurisdiction that is neutral, independent, and built to last,” said Ali Ijaz Ahmad, First Deputy Chairman of the Tamchy SFIT Management Council.

 

One of the first executives who decided to set up in Tamchy SFIT was Seo Dong Hyun, CEO of Serim.

 

“Over the past thirty years of investing in the semiconductor industry, high technology, and energy, I have come to appreciate that legal certainty and trust in the regulatory system are the foundation of long-term investment. These are the very principles on which the Tamchy SFIT was established. What is particularly remarkable is that a project of this scale was delivered in just one year—faster than in any other jurisdiction I know. Today, I registered my family holding company here. For me, this is not an investment for years, but for generations,” he said.

 

By 2035, Tamchy aims to attract around 4,000 resident companies and create over 10,000 jobs. The expected contribution of Tamchy to the country’s economy between 2026 and 2035 is estimated at $20 bn.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (SFIT).

 

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African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) Marks 25 Years of impact at its 2026 Annual General Meeting

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African Trade

The 2026 gathering also marks a significant milestone in ATIDI’s history, celebrating 25 years since the organisation’s establishment and recognising a quarter century of supporting trade, investment and economic transformation across Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 6, 2026/APO Group/ –The African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) (www.ATIDI.Africa) will convene its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 30 June to 3 July 2026, bringing together heads of state, government officials, investors, development finance institutions and private sector leaders from across Africa and beyond.

 

Held under the theme “Empowering Africa: Risk Managed, Growth Unlocked”, the AGM comes at a pivotal moment for the continent as African institutions seek to mobilise greater levels of investment, strengthen economic resilience and accelerate sustainable development.

 

The 2026 gathering also marks a significant milestone in ATIDI’s history, celebrating 25 years since the organisation’s establishment and recognising a quarter century of supporting trade, investment and economic transformation across Africa.

 

Hosted by the Government of Kenya, the event will provide a platform for high-level dialogue on the future of African development finance, bringing together leaders from across the public and private sectors to explore how innovative financing, risk mitigation solutions and stronger African institutions can unlock investment and accelerate growth across the continent.

 

A central feature of the programme will be the Leaders’ Panel, which will examine how Africa can build a more resilient and self-sustaining development finance ecosystem in response to shifting global capital flows, rising debt pressures and growing demand for infrastructure and industrial investment.

 

Bringing together senior political leaders, development finance institutions and trade and investment organisations, the discussion will explore how governments, regional institutions and multilateral partners can work together to mobilise domestic and international capital, reduce the cost of financing and support investment in the sectors that will define Africa’s next phase of development, including energy, manufacturing, SMEs and green infrastructure.

This is a good opportunity to celebrate 25 years of delivering African solutions to African challenges

 

The Opening Ceremony will feature addresses from senior government officials and ATIDI leadership, including Professor Kelly Mua Kingsly, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Manuel Moses, Chief Executive Officer of ATIDI. Delegates will also hear from senior representatives of the Government of Kenya, including Cabinet Secretaries responsible for finance, trade and investment.

 

As part of the celebrations marking ATIDI’s 25th anniversary, the programme will recognise the institution’s founding members and reflect on the organisation’s evolution over the past quarter century. Since its establishment, ATIDI has facilitated over USD93 billion in critical economic sectors across Africa.

 

Alongside the policy discussions, the AGM will place a strong emphasis on investment promotion and business development. The Investor Showcase will bring together representatives from government, commercial banks, multilateral development banks and the private sector to highlight investment opportunities and strengthen engagement between investors and African markets.

 

The programme will also include a series of curated Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings designed to connect investors, businesses and public sector stakeholders, helping to facilitate partnerships, unlock opportunities and support long-term economic growth.

 

Professor Kelly Mua Kingsly, Chairman of the Board of Directors, ATIDI, said: “This is a good opportunity to celebrate 25 years of delivering African solutions to African challenges. As the continent seeks to mobilise greater levels of investment and accelerate development, African institutions have an increasingly important role to play. This AGM will bring together leaders from across the continent and beyond to explore how partnerships, innovation and risk mitigation can help unlock the capital needed to support Africa’s future.”

 

Manuel Moses, Chief Executive Officer of ATIDI, said: “African Solutions for Africa reflects our belief that the continent’s development ambitions will be achieved through strong institutions, innovative thinking and effective collaboration. This AGM provides a unique opportunity for policymakers, investors and development partners to come together and discuss practical solutions that can help mobilise investment at scale, strengthen resilience and support sustainable economic transformation across Africa

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI).

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Ghana, Seychelles and São Tomé to Spotlight Energy Investment Pipelines at Power Africa Today 2026

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African Energy Chamber

Energy ministers from Ghana, Seychelles and São Tomé and Príncipe will outline national power sector investment pipelines spanning generation, grids, renewables and supporting infrastructure at Power Africa Today during AEW 2026

CAPE TOWN , South Africa, July 6, 2026/APO Group/ –Ghana, Seychelles and São Tomé and Príncipe are advancing distinct but converging energy transition pathways, as governments shift from policy design to execution-ready infrastructure and investable project pipelines. These national strategies will be presented at the Power Africa Today conference during African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town from October 12–16.

 

At the center of the dialogue, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor; Seychelles’ Minister for Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources, Marie-May Jeremie; and São Tomé and Príncipe’s Minister of Infrastructure and Natural Resources, Nelson Cardoso, will outline how their respective countries are mobilizing investment across hydrocarbons, renewables and infrastructure.

In Ghana, the delivery of Jubilee crude to the Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema marks an early step toward strengthening domestic refining capacity and reducing import dependence, supporting broader energy security and industrial fuel supply. This downstream integration is being complemented by an upstream recovery program anchored by a $3.5 billion investment drive, including a $1.5 billion agreement with Eni and a $2 billion framework with Jubilee Partners aimed at stabilizing production and ensuring reliable hydrocarbon supply for both export revenues and domestic energy needs, including gas-to-power development.

Investors are responding in kind, backing clearly structured, bankable energy projects that are ready to deliver impact at scale

At the same time, Ghana is addressing structural grid challenges through a $182 million efficiency and transmission upgrade program led by the Electricity Company of Ghana, alongside tariff adjustments aimed at stabilizing the power sector. Together, these reforms reflect a broader strategy that integrates upstream recovery, downstream expansion and grid reform within a just transition framework focused on industrialisation and job creation.

Seychelles is advancing a small-island energy transition model anchored in its Renewable Energy Accelerated Program, targeting 15% renewable penetration by 2030 through grid modernization and de-risked investment structures. Complementary reforms within the Public Utilities Corporation, including upgrades to the Roche Caiman generation facility, support broader efforts to strengthen energy resilience and diversify the island economy through blue economy initiatives.

In São Tomé and Príncipe, macroeconomic stabilization under an IMF Extended Credit Facility is enabling a more structured infrastructure investment environment. This is being reinforced by a $24.5 million African Development Bank grant, part of a broader clean energy investment package aimed at accelerating the country’s transition from diesel-based generation toward renewable energy and improved grid reliability. Recent renewable integration efforts, including small-scale solar deployment and hybrid generation systems, are supporting grid stability as the country works to reduce reliance on imported fuels and strengthen system performance.

Alongside a €72 million AfDB-supported portfolio, planned hydroelectric concessions along the Adabe River and solar development at Água Casada are being structured to attract private capital through de-risked public-private partnership frameworks, supporting efforts to expand reliable electricity access and build a more resilient power system.

“Across Africa, governments are moving decisively from policy design to implementation, turning ambition into execution on the ground,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Investors are responding in kind, backing clearly structured, bankable energy projects that are ready to deliver impact at scale. The Power Africa Today conference at AEW 2026 reflects this shift, bringing together governments and investors focused on moving projects from concept to execution.”

As African energy markets continue shifting from policy ambition toward execution-driven, investable project pipelines, Power Africa Today at  AEW 2026 will provide a platform for governments and investors to engage directly on strategies that can accelerate project delivery and unlock new capital flows across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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