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OMV Discusses Exploration Efforts in Libya’s Sirte Basin, Eyes Strategic Growth

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Berislav Gašo

Berislav Gašo, Member of the Executive Board and Executive Vice President, Energy at OMV, elaborates on the company’s exploration activities in the Sirte Basin and promising outlook for Libya’s oil and gas sector in an exclusive interview with ECP

TRIPOLI, Libya, January 28, 2025/APO Group/ — 

In an exclusive interview with Energy Capital & Power (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com), Berislav Gašo, Member of the Executive Board and Executive Vice President of Energy at OMV, discusses the company’s exploration efforts in the Sirte Basin and shares an optimistic perspective on Libya’s oil and gas sector.

OMV has resumed exploration activities in Libya’s Sirte Basin after a 13-year hiatus, signaling renewed confidence in the country’s oil and gas sector. What key factors led to the decision to resume exploration activities, and what role do you see Libya playing in OMV’s overall upstream strategy moving forward?

Indeed, OMV was among the first international companies to resume exploration activities in the region. Libya plays an important role in OMV’s Energy portfolio with successful exploration efforts being crucial for adding value and bringing in new volumes. A testament to these strong bonds with the country is the spudding of the Essar well in the C103 license within the Sirte Basin, which was the first OMV-operated exploration well drilled in Libya since the 1990s. OMV’s ongoing exploration efforts will be pivotal in generating growth and solidifying our energy business in Libya.

Libya plays an important role in OMV’s Energy portfolio with successful exploration efforts being crucial for adding value and bringing in new volumes

The ESSAR Prospect is a key focus of OMV’s exploration efforts in Libya. What are the main objectives of this campaign, and how do you assess the potential for additional discoveries in the Sirte Basin?

Today, our exploration activities in Libya are mainly focused on the Sirte Basin, where we are an operator, and the Murzuq Basin, where we are a partner. We are currently drilling the Essar well, which will be followed by the Alhilal well within the same license. This infrastructure-led approach leverages the proximity of these wells to existing producing fields, enabling efficient tie-ins to nearby production facilities for rapid additional output. Beside our drilling activities in C103, OMV is also working diligently on maturing leads in our other exploration licenses within the Sirte Basin.

OMV is collaborating with Zueitina Oil Company (ZOC) on the drilling of the B1-106/4 well. Can you discuss the importance of this partnership and how OMV plans to integrate local expertise and resources in the execution of its exploration projects in Libya?

Synergies between ZOC and OMV are a crucial backbone of our drilling activities. OMV’s exploration is carried out by ZOC, as our integrated service provider. By working with a local operator, we can efficiently share drilling rigs between OMV-operated exploration and ZOC-operated development projects in our licenses, resulting in more effective use of the rig utilization. Through this collaboration, OMV benefits from local expertise and fosters a culture of open communication and knowledge transfer. Furthermore, we transmit drilling data to our headquarters in Vienna via real-time data streaming services, where it is processed to ensure safe and efficient operations.

What are your expectations for the broader outlook of Libya’s oil and gas sector over the next few years?

The outlook for the Libyan oil and gas sector in the coming years is promising, driven by the National Oil Corporation’s strategy to increase production. An upcoming bidding round is expected to attract interest and open up new opportunities for exploration and production. Libya’s vast untapped reserves and strategic location make it a major player in the global energy market, but sustained progress will depend on ensuring security, regulatory reforms and investment in infrastructure. Tackling these challenges could spur growth in the sector and increase its contributions to the national economy.

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

Energy

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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Canada–Africa Financing Forum to Convene Investors and Decision-Makers in Cape Town – May 14, 2026

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Ateau Zola

This timely Forum comes on the heels of commitments announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, deepening Canada–Africa commercial ties and expanding investment partnerships

TORONTO, Canada, April 29, 2026/APO Group/ –The Canada–Africa Chamber of Business (https://CanadaAfrica.ca) will convene investors, financiers, policymakers, and industry leaders in Cape Town on May 14, 2026 for the Canada–Africa Financing Forum—a high-level platform focused on unlocking capital and accelerating deal flow across African markets.

Registration is open (http://apo-opa.co/4vZN6oV)

This timely Forum comes on the heels of commitments announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, deepening Canada–Africa commercial ties and expanding investment partnerships. The program connects leaders from venture capital, private equity, and institutional investors to examine where capital is moving—and where the next opportunities lie—supported by Canadian project partners with proven capacity to deliver on-the-ground.

Delegates will engage directly with finance and investment decision-makers, following the program opening, featuring messages from President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Mark Carney, in addition to high-level Ministerial representation.

This Forum is about capital deployment, not just conversation

“This Forum is about capital deployment, not just conversation,” said Garreth Bloor, President of the Canada–Africa Chamber of Business. “We are convening investors, institutions, and project leaders who are actively shaping transactions across Africa—and connecting them directly with Canadian partners who are ready to work together.”

The Canada–Africa Financing Forum reflects the Chamber’s role as a privately financed, market-led platform advancing Canada-Africa trade and investment through world-class networking and information-sharing events.

Why Attend

  • Direct access to active dealmakers and capital allocators
  • Insights into where capital is being deployed and key players delivering major projects
  • Opportunities to build partnerships across Canada and African markets
  • Participation in a curated, high-level environment focused on execution

Secure Your Place

Space is limited and demand is strong.

Apply to secure your place (http://apo-opa.co/4vXb9oz)

Read More and View the Program (http://apo-opa.co/4vZN6oV)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.

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ORUN and 1xBET Partner to Support a Dynamic Creative Africa

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MIR Holding

During the MASA 2026 edition, held from April 11 to 18, 2026, ORUN and 1xBET implemented the We Champion Talent program, an initiative aimed at promoting African talent and advancing the development of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs)

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, April 28, 2026/APO Group/ –As part of the Innovation Village co-organized with MASA at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan from April 14 to 18, ORUN (https://ORUN.Africa) announces the rollout of its partnership with 1xBET to support a creative Africa that is structuring itself, professionalizing, and scaling across the continent.

We aim to demonstrate that it is possible to support African talent, narratives, and creative ecosystems over the long term, with ambition and consistency

Designed as a space of convergence between heritage, innovation, and knowledge transmission, the Innovation Village features scenography crafted by Ivorian artisans, a program of panels and masterclasses on creative industries, an immersive experience produced by Orun Studios, and a major institutional highlight on April 17. Its narrative platform is built around three pillars: memory, structure, and transmission. The initiative aims to position cultural and creative industries as an economic driver for the continent.

“The Innovation Village was conceived as an act of construction. By partnering with organizations such as 1xBET, we aim to demonstrate that it is possible to support African talent, narratives, and creative ecosystems over the long term, with ambition and consistency,” said Habyba Thiero, CEO of Africa Currency Network and President of ORUN.

This vision aligns with ORUN’s broader ambition to produce, structure, and internationalize African creative industries through events, content, and strategic partnerships.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ORUN, part of African Currency Network (ACN).

 

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