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Namibian Petroleum Commissioner Maggy Shino to Speak at African Energy Week (AEW) 2024, Amid Series of World-Class Orange Basin Discoveries

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Maggy Shino

Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner of Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, will discuss the country’s latest exploration activities at African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2024

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 14, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Following Galp’s hydrocarbon discoveries in the Mopane Structure in the offshore Orange Basin earlier this year – estimated to hold at least 10 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent – Namibia has cemented its reputation as Africa’s premier exploration hotspot. Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner of Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, will lead discussions on the country’s evolution into a hydrocarbon producer and the status of existing high-profile discoveries by Shell and TotalEnergies at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024, scheduled for November 4-8 in Cape Town.

As a frontier market with a world-class proven petroleum system, Namibia has garnered the attention of major explorers and anticipates first oil from its deepwater Orange Basin by 2030. While TotalEnergies and Shell carry out appraisal of their respective discoveries – with TotalEnergies’ Venus-1 discovery estimated to hold over 5 billion barrels alone – Chevron is set to drill its first exploration well in PEL 90 by the close of 2024. Onshore, ReconAfrica recently spud the Naingopo-1 well as part of a multi-well exploration campaign in the Kavango Basin in PEL 73. Home to the highly prospective Damara Fold Belt, the area is estimated to contain over 22 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas.

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 www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

The Ministry’s proactive approach in advancing oil and gas exploration and appraisal activities

Reflecting dynamic interest in Namibia’s offshore acreage, the country has seen a series of farm-in deals in recent months. Last month, BW Energy farmed-in into PEL 73, contributing up to $141 million in working capital and stipulating the company’s participation in two Damara Fold Belt exploration wells and a 3D seismic program. Azule Energy acquired a 42.5% interest in Block 2914A in the Orange Basin from Rhino Resources Namibia in May 2024, while Eco Atlantic announced a farm-in into Block 1 in the Orange Basin from Tosaco Energy in June 2024. Global Petroleum is currently in early commercial discussions over a potential farm-in agreement for its PEL 94 in the offshore Walvis Basin.

Commissioner Shino is also expected to speak on Namibia’s long-term gas development plans. The country is targeting FID for the Kudu Conventional Gas Development this year, with production expected in 2026. The highly-anticipated project – currently in the Front-End Engineering and Design phase – will deliver gas to an 885 MW combined cycle gas turbine, boosting domestic power generation capacity and creating opportunities for diversified industries and economic growth.

To support its long-term production goals, the Ministry of Mines and Energy is advancing petroleum revenue management legislation, along with dedicated local content policies ahead of first production. These measures are designed to optimize the benefits of Namibia’s extractive sectors by ensuring effective revenue management and generating opportunities for the local workforce and value-added activities. During AEW: Invest in African Energy, Namibia’s industry milestones and future plans will be unveiled, affirming the role of private-public partnerships, local content policy formulation and sustained foreign investment in fast-tracking development of the country’s hydrocarbon resources.  

“Ongoing discoveries in the Orange Basin underscore Namibia’s potential to stimulate broad economic growth and attain energy security not just for the country, but also the wider SADC region. The Ministry’s proactive approach in advancing oil and gas exploration and appraisal activities, as well as local content policies, will be crucial in realizing these goals and establishing a model for other emerging producers to follow,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

At AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024, Commissioner Shino and the Namibian delegation will present ongoing projects, discuss new exploration opportunities and engage with global industry leaders and stakeholders to further Namibia’s oil and gas ambitions. The event promises to be a pivotal platform for showcasing Namibia’s potential and attracting new investments to its burgeoning upstream sector. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Aurionpro expands its multi-country transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB)

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Aurionpro

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers

MUMBAI, India, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –Aurionpro Solutions Limited (www.AurionPro.com) (BSE: 532668 | NSE: AURIONPRO)a global leader in banking technology, announced the expansion and upgrade of its transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), to modernize and enhance the bank’s corporate transaction banking capabilities across multiple countries.

Download Document: https://apo-opa.co/4edHUaC

This multi-country transaction banking upgrade covering Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania aligns with DTB’s intent to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and support growing transaction volumes as it expands its regional corporate banking footprint. DTB continues to focus on building a more agile, ‘digital-first’ banking experience, particularly around payments for its corporate customers across Africa, and is now well positioned to scale these capabilities. As part of its broader transformation agenda, the bank has been steadily investing in platforms that enhance scale, reliability, and service consistency across markets.

Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers. By enabling DTB to standardize and scale its transaction banking operations across countries, the platform ensures consistent service levels, stronger control, and improved efficiency. It also supports enhanced user experience, advanced security, and the flexibility to introduce new features as DTB expands its regional transaction banking footprint.

Murali Natarajan (https://apo-opa.co/48trPdk), Managing Director & CEO, DTB Kenya   commented: “We are delighted to strengthen and broaden our partnership with Aurionpro Solutions as part of DTB’s ongoing digital transformation journey across multiple markets. Our focus on innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity continues to guide our technology investments. This upgrade strengthens our transaction banking capabilities, enabling us to deliver greater value to our customers through robust digital channels and seamlessly integrated experiences.”

Ashish Rai, Group CEO, Aurionpro Solutions, commented: “We are pleased to deepen our multi-country engagement with Diamond Trust Bank and support the next phase of its transaction banking modernization. As DTB continues to scale across markets, platform resilience and consistency become paramount. Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility, deliver superior experiences to corporate customers, and create long-term value across geographies.”

He added, “Aurionpro’s iCashpro lays a strong digital foundation for transaction & wholesale banks across the globe to grow their corporate and SME client portfolio today, while creating a clear roadmap for next- generation capabilities in AI-driven insights, advanced automation and API-led connectivity for businesses in Kenya and across Africa.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aurionpro Solutions Ltd.

 

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Minerals Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joins African Mining Week (AMW) as South Africa Improves Sectorial Investment Climate

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Energy Capital

Minerals Council CEO to share insights on policy, infrastructure and investment trends shaping South Africa’s mining industry

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference will feature Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council of South Africa, as a speaker. Scheduled for October 14 – 16, 2026 in Cape Town, the event will bring together global investors, policymakers and industry leaders, with Mthenjane’s participation highlighting the council’s commitment to engaging international stakeholders and promoting investment across South Africa’s mining sector.

His participation comes at a critical moment as the Minerals Council works closely with government on finalizing the Mineral Resources Development Bill 2025, a policy framework aimed at strengthening the country’s mining investment climate and the sector’s contribution to GDP. According to the council, the revised legislation will support new investment across the value chain as South Africa seeks to mobilize R2 trillion over the next five years to unlock its critical minerals potential.

The policy reforms come amid shifting production trends in the sector. In 2025, South Africa recorded declines in gold and platinum group metals output of 1.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The new regulatory framework is expected to strengthen public-private partnerships and stimulate investment, enabling South Africa to increase production and capitalize on strong global commodity prices. Increased private sector investments is crucial with South Africa seeking targeting to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in untapped iron ore potential as well as maintain its position as the world’s leading producer of chrome and manganese.

At AMW 2026, Mthenjane is expected to outline these trends, providing insights into how the council is contributing to addressing challenges disrupting the sector. Infrastructure and energy costs remain key concerns for industry players. To support the energy-intensive sector, South Africa approved a 35% reduction in electricity tariffs for major ferrochrome producers, helping stabilize an industry that has faced significant cost pressures after electricity prices surged by roughly 900% since 2008.

Logistics constraints are also a priority area for reform. South Africa’s economy is losing an estimated R1 billion per day due to inefficiencies across rail and port infrastructure. As a result, the government is considering measures supported by the Minerals Council to increase private sector participation in logistics. Planned reforms include rail modernization initiatives targeting 250 million tons of freight capacity by 2029, alongside port upgrades and private operator participation aimed at strengthening mineral exports and improving supply chain efficiency.

Beyond infrastructure and policy reforms, the Minerals Council is advocating for stronger exploration investment to support long-term industry growth.

At AMW, Mthenjane is expected to highlight these developments and outline the steps required to reinforce South Africa’s position in the global minerals supply chain. His insights will offer investors and stakeholders a timely perspective on opportunities within the country’s mining sector.

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

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Seychelles Targets Energy Investment Push as Minister Jérémie Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as a Speaker

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African Energy Chamber

Seychelles energy minister will speak at AEW 2026, positioning her to highlight reforms, renewable projects and investment opportunities as the island nation advances its transition toward a diversified energy system

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 29, 2026/APO Group/ –Marie-May Jérémie, Minister of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources for Seychelles will participate as a speaker at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town. Her participation underscores the country’s growing role in shaping Africa’s small-island energy transition agenda.

Minister Jérémie’s presence at AEW 2026 comes at a critical time as Seychelles accelerates efforts to reduce its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. The event provides a platform to attract investment, strengthen policy alignment and showcase bankable projects, positioning the country as a viable destination for private-sector participation in island energy systems.

Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments

In May last year, international finance institution the World Bank approved the Renewable Energy Acceleration Program, a seven-year initiative aimed at modernizing the grid and increasing renewable energy penetration to 15% by 2030. The program focuses on unlocking private capital while strengthening transmission infrastructure to accommodate variable renewable energy sources.

Project development is gaining traction in the country, particularly in innovative technologies suited to Seychelles’ land constraints. The 5.8 MW Seysun Lagoon floating solar PV project, developed by independent renewable power producer Qair, is under construction and expected online in 2026.

Alongside renewables, Seychelles continues to pursue upstream opportunities to diversify its economy. The government approved new exploration entrants in 2025 and extended exiting petroleum agreements, while securing an infrastructure partnership with China. Multilateral estimates suggest over $800 million in investment will be required over the next 25 years.

Regulatory reform is central to this transition, with Seychelles introducing an independent power producer framework to open the market to private developers. Standardized power purchase agreements, grid access reforms and strengthened public-private partnership structures are being implemented to improve transparency, reduce risk and accelerate project bankability across solar, storage and emerging wind opportunities.

“Minister Jérémie’s participation highlights the strategic importance of island nations in Africa’s broader energy transition,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments. Her insights will be critical to advancing dialogue on resilient, low-carbon energy systems across the continent.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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