Libya is pursuing a $36 billion energy investment program to expand production, develop infrastructure and attract international capital. The country aims to increase oil output to two million barrels per day by 2030–31, creating investment opportunities across upstream operations, gas development and downstream infrastructure. Delivering these ambitions will require financing, technical expertise and sustained cooperation between domestic institutions and international energy companies.

Alshirawi’s experience in international energy cooperation offers relevant perspectives as Libya works to strengthen its position in global markets. The IEF brings together energy-producing and consuming countries to facilitate dialogue on market stability, security of supply and investment. These priorities intersect with Libya’s efforts to mobilize capital, develop its hydrocarbon resources and establish the infrastructure required to support long-term production growth.

Appointed the IEF’s sixth Secretary General, Alshirawi assumed office on January 1, 2025, following his election on June 25, 2024. He brings more than 40 years of experience across the public and private energy sectors, including senior executive positions at Bahrain Petroleum Company and Bahrain’s Ministry of Oil, alongside advisory responsibilities to Bahrain’s oil and gas minister.

His professional background also includes contributions to Bahrain’s renewable energy and energy efficiency planning. Before becoming Secretary General, Alshirawi served seven years on the IEF Executive Board and nine years in its International Support Group, building extensive experience in institutional cooperation and international energy policy.

Libya became the IEF’s 72nd member country in January 2023, strengthening its participation in international energy dialogue and the Joint Organisations Data Initiative. Membership provides a platform for engagement on energy data transparency and market developments, supporting Libya’s efforts to deepen international cooperation as it pursues investment and production targets.

LEES 2027 will bring government representatives, national oil companies, international operators, investors and financial institutions to Tripoli to examine commercial opportunities across Libya’s energy sector. Alshirawi’s participation will contribute an international policy perspective to discussions on financing, infrastructure integration and the partnerships required to advance the country’s energy development objectives.

For more information about LEES 2027, visit www.LibyaSummit.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

The upcoming South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) conference – scheduled for November 24–25, 2026, in Juba – will connect service providers, engineering contractors, technology leaders, legal advisors and training institutions with project developers. Returning for its seventh edition, SSOP 2026 will feature technical workshops, high-level panel discussions and project showcases designed to translate market opportunities into tangible projects across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.

Strategic Frameworks Drive Exploration and Downstream Infrastructure

Recent bilateral and corporate milestones demonstrate South Sudan’s commitment to combining international expertise with physical infrastructure development. In July 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum signed a memorandum of understanding with UAE-based Bianchi Gold Trading Investment Company, establishing a strategic framework for cooperation across exploration, midstream storage, refining, technical studies and workforce capacity building. As these initiatives progress, they could generate demand for engineering contractors, technical consultants, construction firms and equipment suppliers.

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Meanwhile, the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), through its subsidiary Strategic Fuel Fund, is advancing exploration preparations at Block B2 in Greater Jonglei State. Following an aerial geophysical survey covering approximately 47,000 km² in 2024, the company has pursued terrain reconnaissance services to support a planned 2D seismic campaign. These activities illustrate opportunities for geophysical specialists, surveying companies, logistics providers and other technical contractors. SANPC CEO Godfrey Moagi is speaking at SSOP 2026.

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Beyond exploration, South Sudan’s proposed petroleum infrastructure developments offer further potential for service companies. National oil company Nile Petroleum Corporation is pursuing a proposed 350-kilometre crude pipeline connecting the Tharjiath oilfields in Block 5A with the Paloch oilfields in Blocks 3 and 7, alongside refinery development and downstream expansion plans. If advanced, these projects would require engineering, construction, equipment supply and operational support.

Local Content Framework Supports Domestic Participation

South Sudan’s Petroleum Act provides a framework for increasing domestic participation in the oil and gas industry. The Act is designed to ensure that oil and gas activities benefit local communities, while supporting domestic enterprises through employment, procurement and equity partnerships. Local Content Regulations put into effect in 2019 further strengthen these obligations, positioning local companies at the forefront of the country’s oil and gas expansion.

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The government has also sought to improve oversight, while strengthening its own technical capacity. In May 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum partnered with the African Legal Support Facility and international law firm Pinsent Masons to deliver specialized technical workshops for government officials. The training enhances local expertise in petroleum contract negotiations, fiscal framework design and regulatory compliance, ensuring that incoming investments align with national value retention goals.

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SSOP 2026 Connects Service Companies with Project Opportunities

As South Sudan seeks to expand production and develop petroleum infrastructure, service companies will play an important part in delivering the technical capabilities required to move projects forward. SSOP 2026 provides a bridge between the country’s leading operators and service companies seeking to expand their footprint across the market.

Through dedicated technical sessions and executive networking opportunities, the conference will provide opportunities for companies to identify potential contracts, establish local and international partnerships and position themselves for future work across exploration, production optimization, refining and petroleum transportation.

For more information, visit https://SouthSudanOilPower.com.

Representing the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) recognizes the partnership as a vital step toward strengthening local participation across the energy sector. Signed in Maputo this week, the MoU addresses one of the biggest challenges faced by the industry: ensuring that domestic companies have the financial resources, technical capabilities and commercial connections needed to benefit from large-scale investments. By bringing financial institutions and leading operators together, the initiative offers a practical model for translating Mozambique’s growing energy investment pipeline into sustainable opportunities for local businesses.

“Mozambique is attracting billions of dollars into LNG development, but the true measure of success will be how much of that investment reaches local companies, creates jobs and builds lasting industrial capacity. Standard Bank and the Mozambique Oil and Gas Chamber are demonstrating exactly the kind of partnership Africa needs to turn major energy investments into opportunities for African businesses,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

The partnership comes as Mozambique advances a series of major LNG projects toward commissioning. TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG project, designed to produce 13.1 million tons per annum (mtpa), is targeting first production by 2029. Development is progressing, with more than 4,000 workers currently mobilized at the Afungi site. ExxonMobil is also advancing the Rovuma LNG project toward a 2028-start. The company recently selected an engineering and procurement contractor for the planned 18.6-mtpa project.

Meanwhile, at African Energy Week 2026, Eni announced that it would begin drilling at the $7.2 billion Coral Norte FLNG project in early November. With a planned capacity of 3.6 mtpa, the project will double Mozambique’s LNG output to approximately 7 mtpa. Eni currently produces from the Coral Sul project, which came online in 2022. These projects are not only cementing the country’s position as a global LNG exporter, but are creating a substantial pipeline of opportunities for local MSMEs.

Stepping into this picture, the recent partnership between Standard Bank and the Mozambique Oil and Gas Chamber positions local companies at the forefront of these projects. According to Florival Mucave, President of the Mozambique Oil and Gas Chamber, the partners “aim to ensure that, as business opportunities emerge in connection with the supply chains of LNG projects, Mozambican companies not only know about these opportunities but are also increasingly prepared.”

Financing is at the core of the MoU. Mucave cited a MozUp 2024 study which showed that out of 104 suppliers surveyed, only 27% had bank loans, while 84% relied on informal financing avenues that covered about half of their business needs. The partnership addresses this challenge by connecting companies directly to financiers, while providing broader support across training and business preparation.

“A Mozambican entrepreneur should not lose a contract simply because they cannot access working capital or meet procurement requirements without support. We commend Standard Bank and the Mozambique Oil and Gas Chamber for moving beyond commitments to local content and putting practical solutions in place to help domestic businesses compete and grow,” Ayuk added.