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Regulatory Clarity in Venezuela Shows How Africa Can Unlock Energy Capital

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African Energy Chamber

As U.S. licenses open doors for Shell in Venezuela, African energy markets face a similar need for credible frameworks to attract capital at African Energy Week 2026

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, February 25, 2026/APO Group/ –Just days ago, Shell announced that newly issued U.S. general licenses for oil and gas exploration in Venezuela would allow it to advance its long-stalled Dragon gas project, tapping into an estimated 4.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves off Venezuelan shores and potentially bringing first production online within three years. The development reflects broader shifts in investor sentiment and regulatory frameworks in one of the world’s most resource-rich but politically complex energy landscapes – and holds timely lessons for African energy producers seeking foreign capital and technical partners.

 

Since the Trump administration’s sanctions regime in 2019, Venezuela’s hydrocarbons sector has been largely isolated from global markets. Chevron, bp, Repsol and Shell now stand among the companies authorized to engage in energy projects and transactions, following an expansion of licenses issued by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Under these general licenses – including GL 46A and GL 48 – U.S. companies can participate in certain exploration, production and service activities previously prohibited, provided they comply with strict oversight, reporting and contractual conditions.

Shell’s Dragon project, which had been stalled for years due to shifting U.S. policy and sanction uncertainties, illustrates how regulatory clarity can reshape risk perceptions. More than a decade in planning, the Dragon field’s revival depends on OFAC’s clear, predictable licenses that provide foreign investors with a defined legal pathway for engagement.

The conditions that are unlocking foreign capital in Venezuela are precisely what Africa must prioritize to attract and sustain global energy investment

This recalibration of U.S. sanctions policy coincides with legal reforms inside Venezuela. A recent draft amendment to the Hydrocarbons Law promises to expand private participation, granting greater operational autonomy and offering more attractive terms for investors – a significant departure from decades of strict PDVSA-dominated control.

Together, these changes are reshaping investor sentiment in Caracas and beyond. Energy companies and project developers who once dismissed Venezuela as unbankable are now cautiously evaluating opportunities, recognizing that legal certainty, enforceable contracts and predictable policy signals – not just resource potential – unlock capital flows.

Similar dynamics are playing out in Africa. Despite abundant reserves – with Nigeria, Angola and Mozambique among the continent’s most resource-rich nations – investment often stalls at the project development and financing stage rather than at resource discovery. Clear regulatory frameworks, credible market participants and enforceable contracts remain prerequisites for attracting significant capital.

“The conditions that are unlocking foreign capital in Venezuela are precisely what Africa must prioritize to attract and sustain global energy investment,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Strong host-government agreements, enforceable fiscal terms and reliable dispute-resolution mechanisms will distinguish projects that receive funding from those that remain on paper.”

These themes are front and center as industry leaders prepare for African Energy Week 2026, scheduled for 12–16 October in Cape Town. With capital markets tightening and competition for investor attention intensifying, African producers must demonstrate that their regulatory frameworks are as certain and transparent as the resource potential beneath their ground.

In Venezuela’s case, a market long sidelined by sanctions is beginning to re-enter global investment channels – not because the resources changed, but because policy frameworks and sanctions relief provided a credible pathway for engagement. For Africa, the lesson is clear: credibility and legal clarity are strategic imperatives for unlocking the investment it requires.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Energy

Siemens Energy Expands Angola Footprint as Senior Vice President (SVP) Waheed Abbasi Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026

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Energy Capital

From FPSO power solutions to local service capacity, Siemens Energy is scaling its role in Angola at a time when the country is pursuing gas expansion

LUANDA, Angola, April 28, 2026/APO Group/ –Waheed Abbasi, Senior Vice President, Gas Services: Europe and Africa at Siemens Energy, has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition as a speaker. Abbasi’s participation comes at a time when Siemens Energy is deepening its footprint in Angola through major power infrastructure and local capacity investments, positioning itself as a key enabler of the country’s evolving oil and gas market. At the event this September (9-10), Abbasi is expected to bring insights into how power technology and gas infrastructure are converging to support Angola’s next phase of industry growth.

With a long-standing presence in Angola, Siemens Energy has played a central role in strengthening power and infrastructure systems through projects in the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors. The company is currently developing an 80 MW power generation plant for the Kaminho FPSO – part of the first large deepwater development in the Kwanza Basin. The FPSO, currently 50% complete, will be installed in 2027 with first oil produced from the Cameia field in 2028. By integrating advanced power generation systems into offshore infrastructure, Siemens Energy is supporting more efficient, lower-emission production while ensuring reliable operations in deepwater environments.

At the same time, Siemens Energy has strengthened its on-the-ground presence with the launch of its Angola Service Shop in 2026. The facility brings service execution, project support, training and critical spare parts closer to customers, enabling faster response times and improving operational reliability across Angola’s oil and gas sector. By anchoring its services locally, Siemens Energy is not only supporting existing projects but also building the infrastructure needed to sustain long-term industry growth, reinforcing supply chain resilience and technical capacity within the country.

Siemens Energy’s activities in Angola form part of a broader continental strategy, with the company active in more than 50 African countries and leading initiatives across power generation, renewable energy and hydrogen development. This pan-African footprint positions Siemens Energy as a key partner for governments seeking to balance industrial growth with energy transition goals. In Angola, this is particularly relevant as the country looks to diversify its energy mix while leveraging its hydrocarbon resources to drive economic development.

Angola’s strategy to increase the share of gas in its energy mix to 25% is creating new opportunities for companies like Siemens Energy to deploy gas-to-power solutions. The start of key projects, including the country’s first non-associated gas project – led by the New Gas Consortium –, is expected to unlock greater gas flows, supporting both LNG exports and domestic power generation. As gas availability increases, the need for efficient power generation, grid infrastructure and industrial energy solutions will become more critical. Siemens Energy’s technology portfolio, spanning gas turbines, power systems and integrated energy solutions, positions the company to play a central role in enabling this transition.

Stepping into this picture, Abbasi’s participation at AOG 2026 comes at a time when Angola is aligning upstream growth with downstream and power sector expansion, creating a more integrated energy ecosystem. The event will provide a platform for discussions around gas monetization, power infrastructure and industrial development, areas where Siemens Energy is actively contributing.

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

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African Mining Week (AMW) to Showcase Emerging Mining Frontiers as Africa Ramps Up Geomapping

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Energy Capital

The upcoming African Mining Week will connect global investors with emerging opportunities across Africa’s mining sector amidst a surge in national geomapping exercises across the continent

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 28, 2026/APO Group/ –State agencies the Ghana Gold Board and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority have signed an agreement to co-conduct geological surveys in the Funsi, Atuna and Bensere East regions. The initiative aims to expand national gold reserves, increase output and support the formalization of artisanal mining operations. The agreement is part of a growing trend across Africa, with mineral-rich countries embarking on national geomapping programs to strengthen mineral production, de-risk exploration projects and position the continent as a key player in the global mineral supply chain.

 

Acceleration in geomapping exercises will be a key focus at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) Conference and Exhibition – The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa, scheduled for October 14-16 in Cape Town. The event will connect global investors and geophysical technology providers with African regulators and project developers, facilitating strategic collaborations aimed at unlocking greenfield developments.

The theme for AMW 2026 – Mining the Future: Unearthing Africa’s Full Mineral Value Chain – reflects a growing trend among African mining jurisdictions eager to unlock the continent’s $8.5 trillion worth of untapped mineral potential. This is backed by the launch of national geomapping initiatives, aimed at identifying new exploration frontiers and supporting investments.

Recent examples include Burundi’s mid-March partnership with U.S. companies Lifezone Metals and KoBold Metals to assess the Musongati Nickel project and other critical mineral prospects. The Democratic Republic of Congo has also engaged Xcalibur Smart Mapping to survey an area spanning 700,000 square kilometers as part of a strategy to unlock over $24 trillion in untapped mineral reserves, with 90% of its geology yet to be explored.

Zambia has also completed 55% of its national geomapping project, as the country seeks to identify new copper deposits to meet its 2031 target of increasing output to three million tons. Meanwhile, Nigeria is advancing its own geomapping efforts following approval of a N1 trillion budget for 2026, aimed at unlocking the country’s potential in more than 44 critical minerals. Several other countries, including Tanzania, are also implementing similar initiatives, while South Africa is providing technical support to nations such as Gabon, South Sudan and Nigeria.

Liberia has plans to geomap 80% of its largely unexplored geology. In an exclusive interview ahead of AMW 2026, Matenokay Tingban, Liberia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, told organizers that “we are seeking geomapping and exploration partners. With Liberia’s vast but largely untapped mineral resources, access to geoscientific data will allow us to negotiate stronger investment deals and unlock downstream infrastructure development.”

The surge in geomapping initiatives highlights Africa’s commitment to unlocking its mining sector growth and presents lucrative opportunities for global exploration, drilling and geophysical technology providers. AMW 2026 will showcase ongoing geomapping progress, connecting African stakeholders with global partners to foster partnerships that will drive the expansion of Africa’s drilling and greenfield projects.

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

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African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) Pushes Regional Energy Hubs to Unlock Africa-Wide Investment Scale

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Energy Capital

APPO’s Secretary General outlines integration strategy, gas potential and financing tools reshaping Africa’s energy investment landscape at IAE 2026

PARIS, France, April 24, 2026/APO Group/ –The African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) is promoting the development of regional energy hubs across the continent, aiming to remove trade barriers and strengthen infrastructure interconnections – from pipelines to refining and distribution networks.

 

Speaking at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2026 in Paris, Farid Ghezali, Secretary General, APPO, said the initiative is central to repositioning Africa in the global energy system. The strategy signals a structural shift for investors: away from fragmented national markets toward a unified, high-growth regional bloc of 1.4 billion people.

“For investors, this changes everything,” Ghezali said. “You are no longer investing in isolated national markets, but in an integrated regional market with scale, demand growth and long-term potential.”

We need long-term partnerships that justify large-scale investments and create stability for both producers and buyers

Ghazali framed the push for integration as a response to a rapidly shifting global energy landscape marked by volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. “Recent events have shown that energy security is not just about supply – it is about reliability and resilience,” Ghazali noted. “The world is looking for diversification and stability,” he said. “Africa can offer both – but only if we organize ourselves as a connected and competitive energy market.”

A key part of APPO’s vision is addressing the continent’s infrastructure gap. Despite holding more than 600 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Africa continues to face constraints in monetizing its resources. “Resources in the ground are not enough,” Ghezali noted. “We need pipelines, LNG facilities, processing infrastructure – real assets that connect supply to demand.”

He emphasized that Africa must move beyond short-term, transactional energy deals, particularly in its engagement with Europe. “We cannot remain in the logic of short-term transactions,” he said. “We need long-term partnerships that justify large-scale investments and create stability for both producers and buyers.”

Financing remains a hurdle, especially as traditional capital sources become more cautious under ESG pressures. However, short-cycle exploration, near-field developments and optimization of existing assets offer immediate value, as recent successes in Namibia, MSGBC countries and Ivory Coast have shown. To support more projects, APPO has backed the creation of the African Energy Bank. At the same time, investors’ preferences are shifting toward integrated energy projects that combine upstream development with domestic power generation or LPG production. “The most attractive projects today are those that deliver both financial returns and development impact,” Ghazali said. “Gas-to-power projects respond to both energy security and sustainability.”

Ghazali underscored the need to boost intra-African energy trade. “We produce oil and gas, yet we import refined products,” he said. “This must change. Regional integration is the only path to a competitive and self-sufficient energy market.”

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

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