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Red Sky Energy Secures 35% Stake in Block 6/24, Eyes New Deals in Angola

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Red Sky Energy

Prioritizing proven or developed assets, the Australian firm is seeking new opportunities in Angola

LUANDA, Angola, January 16, 2025/APO Group/ — 

Australian exploration and production company Red Sky Energy has made its first foray into Africa’s oil and gas market, acquiring a 35% stake in Block 6/24, offshore Angola. Speaking exclusively to Energy Capital & Power (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com), the company’s CEO Andrew Knox cited the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference as pivotal to making the deal happen. Knox participated in a panel discussion during AOG 2024 and the company’s Block 6/24 acquisition underscores the impact the event plays as a platform for engaging with the industry and securing deals.  

What specific factors made Angola an attractive destination for Red Sky Energy’s first international venture? 

Red Sky Energy has been looking at certain opportunities [across the continent] for the last three years and found there are significant opportunities in Angola. The deal we signed represents our first foray into the African continent and is extremely exciting for us. Angola’s production is circa 1.1 million barrels a day and is a well-established market. We focus on proven resources or developed assets, and those with discovered resources that we can use our expertise to develop and bring to market. In Angola, we are seeing plenty of opportunity to do just this. There are a lot of smaller fields situated nearby established infrastructure.  

Currently, for our first entry, we were not looking to operate. We would like to get comfortable in the market and engage with all the players first. However, we are not married to the idea of non-operator. We will also look at operating positions in the future. There is a lot of oil in Angola, with good opportunities and a very supportive government. What the country has done in recent years – with changing their structuring, the establishment of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency and the improvement of the fiscal terms – is what has attracted us to the market.  

Please elaborate on the potential of Block 6/24, particularly the significance of the Cegonha oil discovery? 

We acquired this interest through direct negotiation with the government. Block 6/24 is located approximately 12km from Luanda and the refinery, which is very convenient for us. It also has an existing well and the Cegonha oil discovery, making it the perfect opportunity for first-entry into the country. The crude is heavy, with an API of roughly 20. However, there is production of that sort of crude in nearby fields, so it won’t be a problem for us to produce, potentially sign an offtake agreement and get the crude to the Luanda refinery.  

How do you envision the partnership with Sonangol and ACREP contributing to the development of Block 6/24?  

We have partnered with Sonangol, the national oil company, as well as ACREP. We have a 35% stake, Sonangol will operate with 50% and ACREP with 15%. Firstly, Sonangol knows the market. They are on the ground in a big way, and so for us, there are no challenges associated with bringing a foreign operator to the country for the first time. Sonangol is well established and has good connections in country. Secondly, ACREP is also a national company. They are a smaller player but quite nimble and we are impressed with their solutions in terms of the way we develop the field.  

The agreement outlines extensive geological and geophysical studies over three years and a potential drilling decision in Year 4. What key milestones does Red Sky Energy hope to achieve in this timeline? 

We are looking at studies and possibly reprocessing existing seismic data. There is approximately 3,000 km² of seismic on the license and we will look to potentially reprocess that partially and assess how to develop the field. On the way forward: do we re-enter the existing well? Will we do a sidetrack or a new appraisal well? This is what we are currently analyzing. We are not waiting three years to drill the well; this is just the timeframe for when we need to make a decision to drill. Obviously, we are looking to see if we can bring that timeframe forward.  

Beyond Block 6/24, what are Red Sky Energy’s long-term ambitions in Angola? 

We are looking at a lot of opportunities in Angola. We hope to create a major profit center for the company in the country. But we are focusing on existing discoveries or those in production – we won’t be looking outright at exploration at this point in time.   

What role did Angola Oil & Gas 2024 play in facilitating the deal?  

Angola Oil & Gas was instrumental for us in so many ways. It was our first participation at the conference and we were able to meet everyone. Everyone from the industry attends the event and it was exceptionally helpful for us. We were very pleased with the way the conference went and we learnt a lot from it. It was very well set-up and well-run conference. In 2025, we will definitely be attending again. In summary we are pleased to now be involved, we are looking at other opportunities and it is a wonderful place to do business in the oil and gas space. We will certainly be pursuing other prospects in Angola – watch this space.  

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

Business

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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