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Regional and Global Industry Leaders to Make Strong Case for Hydrocarbon Investment at Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022

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AOG

Following on from discussions held during COP27 in Egypt, a suite of regional energy ministers will be coming to Angola Oil & Gas 2022 to discuss national energy developments, the need to ramp up financing and the role regional cooperation plays in Africa’s energy future

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 17, 2022/APO Group/ — 

With the biggest energy event in Africa post-COP27 set to take place in Luanda from November 29 to December 1, a strong lineup of regional energy ministers will make their way to Angola to lead discussions on the state of play of their respective energy sectors. Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022 is committed to securing new investment, not just in Angola’s sector, but the wider regional energy landscape at large, with the participation of these ministers serving to only enhance this agenda.

At the head is Diamantino Azevedo, Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas of Angola, who has played an instrumental role in positioning Angola as the biggest oil producer in Africa, an emerging globally competitive gas player and an increasingly attractive renewable energy market. On the oil and gas front, Angola has seen new discoveries being made such as ExxonMobil’s discovery at the Bavuca South-1 exploration well at the Block 15, offshore Angola this month; the launch of three new refinery projects; and the establishment of one of the largest single investments in the country’s energy sector, the Angola Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project. While on the renewables front, new commitments by TotalEnergies and other regional players to monetize the country’s abundant solar and wind potential. As such, the sector is ripe for investment and offers unparalleled opportunities for project developers and financiers alike.

Representing Namibia, the country’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Hon. Tom Alweendo, will also be participating in Angola, driving the discussion around the role an accelerated exploration drive plays in Africa’s energy future. With two major oil discoveries by TotalEnergies and Shell made off the coast of Namibia just this year, the country is poised for large-scale developments and is seeking new partnerships with regional and global financiers. In addition to oil and gas, Namibia’s significant green hydrogen potential has laid the foundation for multi-billion-dollar project launches by the likes of Hyphen Hydrogen Energy and others. With a sectoral transformation on the cards, Hon. Minister Alweendo will drive the investment discussion in Angola.

Contributing to this discussion will be Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea and a strong advocate for the role gas plays in Africa. For his part, Minister Obiang Lima has been instrumental in positioning his country as a regional gas hub, unlocking untapped gas resources across West Africa while working towards creating intra-African energy networks in pursuit of energy security. Through the processing facility Punta Europe, Equatorial Guinea monetizes both domestic and regional resources. As the country looks to maximize gas in Africa even further, securing new capital will be key in furthering Minister Obiang Lima’s expansion agenda.

Also driving the investment in gas agenda, Dr. Aissatou Sophie Gladima, Senegal’s Minister of Petroleum and Energies, will be participating at AOG 2022, advocating for heightened investment in African energy. With the 2.5 million ton per annum Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG development set to come online in early 2023, as well as the launch of other large-scale projects such as 230-million-barrel Sangomar oil project, Senegal’s energy future looks bright. However, to unlock the full potential of the sector, H.E. Dr. Minister Gladima is looking at improving investment as well as regional collaboration.

Meanwhile, representing one of Africa’s final frontiers, Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has investment on the agenda, and will be providing critical insight into the DRC’s 30-block strong licensing round. With 27 oil and three gas blocks opening for investment in July 2022, the country offers stakeholders the opportunities to explore one of the last untapped basins worldwide.

Local content, free markets, energy poverty, women in energy and financing Angola’s energy growth will be critical

Finally, in pursuit of a defined and aligned oil and gas agenda for Africa, H.E. Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will be driving the discussion on how Africa can remain resilient despite global market instability. As head of one of the most influential energy organizations worldwide, the Secretary General is well positioned to drive the discussion on investment, exploration and production, and will be joining the ministerial lineup in making a strong case for African oil and gas.

“We will drive a discussion about Oil and Gas in Angola. Gas is critical and essential for Angola’s industrialization. Renewables are critical for the future, and we should embrace both. Local content, free markets, energy poverty, women in energy and financing Angola’s energy growth will be critical” NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber

“Like we saw at the African Energy Week, Angolan energy industry reforms when it comes to eliminating red tape and cut unnecessary barriers is ensuring that the industry remains strong and reinforced our commitment to supporting the oil and natural gas industry in the years to come. I am confident that investment opportunities and deals will be closed in Luanda during this event” Concluded Ayuk

With AOG 2022 set to unlock significant investment across both the Angolan and regional energy landscape, the regional energy ministers in attendance will further this agenda by providing key insight into their respective sectors, engaging with stakeholders from across the regional and global market while driving the discussion on the role oil and gas plays in Africa’s energy future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Binance Reinforces Industry-Leading Compliance Commitment to Foster a Safer Crypto Ecosystem

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Global crypto leader Binance continues to set the standard for regulatory compliance and security, driving innovation with transparency and trust

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 3, 2026/APO Group/ –Binance (https://www.Binance.com), the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, highlights the progress it continues to make in strengthening compliance and regulatory excellence, reinforcing its role as a pioneer in building a safer and more transparent crypto industry. Over the past years, Binance has invested significantly in enhancing its global compliance framework by expanding its teams, systems and controls that align with evolving regulatory expectations across its key markets. These ongoing efforts are designed to support responsible innovation while ensuring that user protection, financial integrity and market transparency remain at the core of the platform’s operations.

 

Leading with Robust Compliance Measures

Binance has implemented a multi-layered compliance program that includes advanced transaction monitoring, stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, and continuous enhancements to its anti-money laundering (AML) systems. These efforts are designed to protect users, prevent illicit activities, and ensure adherence to evolving regulatory requirements across jurisdictions.

 

Building the Future of Crypto with Advanced, Measurable Compliance

Over the past several years, Binance has built one of the most robust compliance programs in the digital-asset industry, combining world-class talent, advanced monitoring technology, and strong partnerships with regulators, law-enforcement agencies, and independent analytics providers. These programs include rigorous onboarding and KYC controls, sophisticated transaction monitoring systems, sanctions screening, behavioral analytics, and a dedicated global compliance team of more than 580 professionals, supported by more than 970 employees in compliance-related roles across customer-service, technology, and product teams.

 

The results of these efforts are measurable: Binance’s direct exposure to illicit activity has dropped by 96% between January 2023 and June 2025, while its capacity to detect, report, and help disrupt financial crime continues to grow. Specifically, sanctions-related exposure reduced dramatically and is now marginal (from 0.284% in January 2024 to just 0.009% in July 2025, a 96.8% decrease). This progress reflects daily collaboration with authorities, independent research, and the lived experience of serving over 300 million users safely, demonstrating how modern crypto compliance works in practice and underscoring Binance’s ongoing commitment to transparency, regulatory excellence, and a safer financial ecosystem.

 

Noah Perlman, Binance Chief Compliance Officer, “At Binance we’ve built a system that doesn’t just react to threats, it anticipates them. A 96% reduction in illicit exposure is a testament to our infrastructure and the 1,500+ professionals working behind the scenes to protect our 300M users.”

 

Our mission has always been to increase the freedom of money, but that freedom is only sustainable if it is built on a foundation of trust

Driving Industry-Wide Standards

Binance’s leadership team emphasizes that compliance is a shared responsibility and that the company actively engages with regulators, policymakers, and industry partners to foster a collaborative environment. This engagement helps shape balanced regulations that support innovation while safeguarding users and the broader financial system.

 

Transparency and User Protection

Transparency remains a cornerstone of Binance’s compliance philosophy. The company regularly publishes updates on its compliance initiatives and welcomes dialogue with the community and regulators. By maintaining high standards, Binance ensures that users can trade with confidence on a platform that prioritizes security and integrity.

 

National Cybercrime Units Collaborations

Binance responds to tens of thousands of law-enforcement requests each year. In 2025 alone, Binance responded to more than 71,000 law enforcement requests and assisted in confiscating over $130 million in illicit funds.

 

Binance supports agencies such as Europol (https://apo-opa.co/4coJAx9), INTERPOL (https://apo-opa.co/4b0FCIt), the DEA, the NCA, Homeland Security Investigations, and multiple national cybercrime units. These collaborations have resulted in the takedown of ransomware groups, darknet markets, human-trafficking networks, and financial-fraud rings. The value of our work has been repeatedly recognized by our global law-enforcement partners.

 

Richard Teng, Binance co-CEO, “Our mission has always been to increase the freedom of money, but that freedom is only sustainable if it is built on a foundation of trust. By integrating compliance into our product DNA, we are proving that the world’s largest exchange can also be the most secure.”

 

Binance remains committed to building a secure, transparent, and trusted platform through ongoing investment in compliance, strong global partnerships, and independently validated results. Since its launch in 2017, Binance has focused on protecting users and supporting the responsible growth of digital finance, with measurable progress recognised by law-enforcement agencies and regulatory stakeholders worldwide.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.

 

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Network International powers card tokenization for Apple smartphones in Egypt in latest regulatory rollout

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Network International

The successful launch comes within the third wave of the Central Bank of Egypt’s granting of tokenisation licenses to select banks and is an important milestone for Egypt’s digital payment ecosystem

CAIRO, Egypt, March 3, 2026/APO Group/ —

  • Enablement signifies a critical milestone in Network’s proven execution capabilities for multi-bank payment initiatives
  • The launch of Apple tokenisation deploys the highest standards of security and operational resilience in Egypt’s digital transformation rollout

We are grateful to the Central Bank of Egypt and the participating banks for their trust and partnership as we continue to help accelerate secure and scalable digital payments

Network International (Network) (www.Network.ae), a leading fintech company across the Middle East and Africa, has announced the successful enablement of Apple Pay acceptance by powering card tokenisation for Apple smartphones for four renowned Egyptian banks, as part of the country’s digital transformation initiatives.

The successful launch comes within the third wave of the Central Bank of Egypt’s granting of tokenisation licenses to select banks and is an important milestone for Egypt’s digital payment ecosystem. The initiative reinforces Network’s scale, innovation leadership and proven execution capabilities in the market.

Supporting all four bank go-lives within the same wave underscores the strength, reliability, and agility of Network’s processing platform, alongside the depth of its local delivery and implementation expertise. The achievement reflects Network’s ability to execute complex, multi-bank digital payment initiatives at pace while maintaining the highest standards of security, operational resilience, and service quality.

Dr. Reda Helal, Group Managing Director – Processing, Africa & Co-Head Group Processing at Network International, said: “We are proud to have supported four renowned banks to successfully transform themselves as Egypt strengthens its digital economy. We have been present in the market for over 20 years and delivering multiple simultaneous implementations demonstrates our local teams’ expertise and the robustness of our processing platform. We are grateful to the Central Bank of Egypt and the participating banks for their trust and partnership as we continue to help accelerate secure and scalable digital payments across Egypt.”

This launch also supports Network’s broader focus on expanding its presence and strengthening its brand across the region, underpinned by its long-standing commitment to Egypt’s payments ecosystem. In 2023, Network International announced the investment valued at EGP 1 billion to expand its operations in Egypt, while serving 160+ banks across Africa and 65+ in the Middle East from its Egypt hub.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Network International.

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ES-KO Turns 70: Seven Decades of Integrated Catering, Logistics & Facility Management Services in Challenging Environments

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Founded as an onboard catering business, ES-KO was established in 1955 and has since grown into a multinational group with 6,000 employees operating across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe

LUANDA, Angola, March 3, 2026/APO Group/ –ES-KO (www.ES-KO.com), a global leader in catering, facility management, procurement and supply-chain solutions, along with camp construction for remote environments, proudly celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026. Founded as an onboard catering business, ES-KO was established in 1955 and has since grown into a multinational group with 6,000 employees operating across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, serving the Energy, Mining, Business & Industry, Defense, Governments, IGOs, and NGOs sectors.

 

A Legacy of Reliability and Growth

From its beginnings serving the maritime industry, ES-KO quickly diversified into large-scale logistics and peacekeeping operations, building a reputation as a dependable partner in difficult times. In 1974, the company managed one of the world’s largest catering and logistics contracts for the Trans-Gabonese railway, and by 1988 it was supporting 8,000 multinational UN troops in Namibia. Throughout the 1990s, ES-KO became a trusted partner for NATO and UN missions across the Balkans and Afghanistan, continuing this mission-driven work into the new millennium in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel, Syria, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Cyprus. Other landmark projects include Madagascar’s national anti-malaria center (2009), a school for 400 children in Haiti after the devastating earthquake (2012), and the fast-track construction of presidential villas for the 2017 Africa-France Summit in Mali. Since the 2020s, the Group has continued to expand strategically, establishing ES-KO Congo, ES-KO Mozambique and ES-KO Gabon, acquiring International Facilities Services (IFS) in 2024 to strengthen its Sub-Saharan footprint, and Campania Alimentare in Italy in 2025.

Trusted by Industry Leaders & Purpose-Driven Organizations

Over seven decades, ES-KO (www.ES-KO.com) has earned the confidence of some of the world’s most demanding organizations. In Gabon and Congo, Perenco relies on ES-KO to deliver nutritious meals, maintain onshore and offshore living quarters, and manage waste and hygiene under harsh conditions. In Mozambique, Coca-Cola entrusts ES-KO with the management of its plant canteens in Maputo and Chimoio, ensuring consistent catering quality and workforce well-being. In Angola, we work with Barloworld, a global leader in earth moving and heavy machinery.

Furthermore, ES-KO has extensive experience delivering robust engineering and camp build-up services in extreme environments. Notable projects include the construction of warehouses, offices, and accommodation facilities for UNMISS in Juba, and the development of the site compound for the Mosul Dam rehabilitation works in Iraq amid ISIS-related security threats. The company’s long-standing partnership with the United Nations — supporting peacekeeping and humanitarian missions since 35 years —demonstrates its proven capability to operate at scale and deliver services to large, complex, multinational communities in conflict zones and infrastructure-limited environments.

For seventy years, ES-KO has been defined by resilience, trust, and commitment to the well-being of those we serve. We are honored to celebrate this milestone and to continue building environments where people thrive, and operations never stop.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ES-KO.

 

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