The Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) 2026 opened its doors in Cape Town today, marking a pivotal moment in the continent’s economic trajectory. Convening a powerful coalition of policymakers, financiers and innovators, the summit signals a decisive shift from conceptual ambition to concrete, bankable action in the pursuit of a sustainable African future.

Under the banner of “From Ambition to Action: Scaling Opportunities in Africa’s Green and Blue Solutions,” AGES 2026, proudly sponsored by Sanlam Investments, is not merely a forum for discussion but a catalyst for deal-making and partnership. The gathering is built on a singular premise, that Africa’s environmental challenges are, in fact, its greatest economic opportunities.

“Ambition lights the path, but it does not pave it. To transform our economies and uplift our communities, we must move beyond rhetoric to robust execution,” said Lerato Mbele, Summit Moderator. “This summit is a marketplace of ideas where we connect visionaries with investors, ensuring that Africa’s green transition is not just sustainable, but also scalable and profitable.”

The strategic focus of this year’s agenda is underpinned by compelling data. The summit is shining a spotlight on the blue economy, a colossal yet often under-leveraged asset that already injects nearly $300 billion annually into the continent’s GDP and sustains 46 million livelihoods through fisheries, tourism and logistics. Simultaneously, the green economy, with agriculture and renewable energy at its core, is projected to unlock a staggering $10 trillion in global business value over the next decade, positioning Africa to generate an estimated 300 million new jobs for its burgeoning youth population.

These are not distant prospects, but immediate frontiers for investment and innovation.

Echoing this sentiment, the Honourable Naren Singh, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, addressed delegates with a call for holistic progress. “Our journey towards a low-carbon future must be defined by a fundamental truth: sustainability is a three-legged stool, balancing the health of our planet, the prosperity of our people and the creation of shared value,” he stated. “By investing in our natural capital, we are investing in the most resilient infrastructure of all our communities.”

Over the next two days, the summit floor will be a hive of activity. Attendees will engage in high-level interactive sessions, witness live project pitches from Africa’s most promising green entrepreneurs, and participate in curated networking forums designed to fast-track collaboration and knowledge transfer.

AGES 2026 is more than an event, it is a declaration that Africa is ready to build a future where economic resilience and environmental stewardship are the same.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a business of Cassava Technologies (www.CassavaTechnologies.com), has today confirmed the full repayment of its ZAR term loan and USD revolving credit facility.

In tandem with this repayment, Liquid has agreed $410 million in new ZAR and USD credit facilities from a syndicate of commercial and development finance lenders. Cassava Technologies is further reinforcing Liquid’s financial position by injecting $195 million in fresh capital into the business.

Commenting on these developments, Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO stated: “These transactions, alongside the recent sale of a minority stake in a data centre subsidiary in South Africa, are part of a significant strengthening of our capital structure as we position the Group for accelerated growth. Through our One Cassava ecosystem, we are delivering innovative AI, cloud, data centre, payments, and low latency broadband connectivity solutions to enterprise customers across Africa.”

Africa Data Centre Holdings (“ADCH”) remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Cassava Technologies as the minority stake sale was in the ADCH South Africa business.

Looking ahead, Liquid intends to issue a new $300 million bond to replace its existing $620 million bond in advance of its maturity in September 2026. This move will reduce Liquid’s overall leverage and further strengthen the company’s balance sheet.

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.

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.