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South Africa’s Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act (UPRD Act): Can Legal Certainty Revive Major Investment After IOCs’ Exit?

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African Energy Chamber

South Africa’s new Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act offers a fresh regulatory framework, but is it enough to bring supermajors back, or will independent players now dominate the landscape?

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, February 6, 2026/APO Group/ –The high‑profile exit of global energy major TotalEnergies from deepwater Blocks 11B/12B and 5/6/7 – home to the Brulpadda and Luiperd gas discoveries – was a significant setback for South Africa’s plans to use domestic resources to boost energy security and economic growth. TotalEnergies, together with partners QatarEnergy and CNR International, gave up their stakes after determining that the discoveries could not be commercially developed under the existing market conditions and regulatory framework.

 

The exits underscored long‑standing industry frustrations with South Africa’s legal and regulatory environment, widely seen as lacking the clarity and predictability that deepwater investors demand. That backdrop helps explain the government’s passage of the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act (UPRD Act) – a standalone legislative framework designed to replace the petroleum provisions embedded in the old Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act and provide a bespoke upstream regime.

At its core, the UPRD Act aims to accelerate exploration and production of South Africa’s petroleum resources by providing clear rules and stable rights for companies – key to attracting major investment. It combines exploration and production rights into a single petroleum right, sets out controlled licensing rounds, guarantees third-party access to infrastructure, and establishes the Petroleum Agency of South Africa as a clear regulatory authority. The law also promotes active participation by the State and previously disadvantaged South Africans, mandates local content, allows a share of output to be sold for strategic stock purposes, and separates oil and gas regulation from mining rules to reduce red tape and simplify operations.

Yet the big question remains: will this new legal certainty be enough to lure back the supermajors, or has the landscape shifted toward leaner, more aggressive independent companies seeking opportunities where majors have stepped away?

 It shows how regulatory reform is essential to restoring investor confidence

“Simply put, TotalEnergies’ exit was a blow to South Africa’s energy industry. These discoveries brought to light alternative energy solutions for a country plagued with a decade‑long energy crisis. However, without clear, predictable rules, even world‑class discoveries struggle to progress to commercial development. It shows how regulatory reform is essential to restoring investor confidence,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

The UPRD Act now provides that framework, but timing is crucial. The regulations needed to put the Act into practice are still being finalized, and until these rules – covering licensing, environmental safeguards and rights administration – are published and tested in early rounds, investor confidence is likely to remain cautious.

For supermajors, investment decisions are increasingly guided by a global strategy that prioritizes projects with clearer returns and lower regulatory risk. With growing pressure to meet climate targets and streamline their portfolios amid the energy transition, deepwater frontier projects in emerging markets are less appealing unless they come with clear, predictable terms.

This creates an opening for independent and smaller players. Companies like Africa Energy Corp. – which increased its stake in Block 11B/12B after the majors’ exit – could view South Africa’s upstream sector as a promising opportunity. With leaner cost structures and a greater tolerance for frontier risk, these players can advance projects that supermajors may avoid, potentially driving local value creation and technology transfer through a different investment model.

Looking ahead to African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – the continent’s premier energy summit bringing together governments, investors and service companies – the UPRD Act is expected to be a central topic in discussions surrounding South Africa. AEW offers a high‑profile platform to showcase the country’s evolving policy landscape and could set the stage for the first post‑Act licensing round. Industry leaders are likely to debate whether the framework delivers on its promise of stability and what conditions might be needed to attract supermajors back.

Ultimately, South Africa’s upstream rebound will depend on execution: if the regulations foster transparency, competitive terms and confidence in governance, the UPRD Act could be a turning point. If not, the sector may settle into a new normal where ambitious independents, rather than supermajors, drive the next chapter of oil and gas development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Business

South Africa’s Government-Business Partnership Opens New Mining Investment Opportunities Ahead of African Mining Week (AMW) 2026

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Etu Energias

African Mining Week 2026 will connect key decision-makers across South Africa’s mining sector with global investors to forge new and strengthen existing public-private investment partnerships

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 1, 2026/APO Group/ —South Africa is stepping up efforts to attract investment into its mining sector, with President Cyril Ramaphosa launching Phase 3 of the Government-Business Partnership, a public-private initiative designed to accelerate economic growth, investment and job creation. Mining has been identified as a key pillar of the new phase, alongside energy, transport and logistics, tourism, infrastructure and agriculture.
 




 

The initiative targets GDP growth of more than 3% and the creation of one million additional jobs by 2030, with the mining sector positioned to play a central role in achieving those objectives.

 

Within mining, Phase 3 targets R50 billion in capital expenditure by February 2028 and the rollout of South Africa’s national mining cadastre system by March 2027. The digital platform is expected to streamline mining-rights applications and help address administrative and project-implementation bottlenecks, supporting efforts to attract new investment and improve the sector’s contribution to economic growth.

 

Mining currently contributes approximately 6% of South Africa’s GDP and supports around 470,000 direct jobs, with each mining job supporting an estimated five to 10 dependents. The urgency of accelerating investment was underscored by President Ramaphosa, who said the country’s current growth rate remains insufficient to meaningfully expand employment, with 8.5 million people unemployed and roughly 300,000 new job-seekers entering the labor force each year.

 

Phase 3 forms part of a broader national ambition to mobilize R2 trillion over the next five years to unlock South Africa’s critical minerals potential. The country holds approximately 80% of the world’s platinum group metals and ranks as the world’s largest producer of chrome and manganese, creating significant opportunities for investors across exploration, mining, processing and related infrastructure. South Africa is also seeking to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in iron ore potential, further expanding the pipeline of opportunities for international and domestic capital.

 

Against this backdrop, African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – the Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – will bring together global investors, financiers, mining companies and government decision-makers in Cape Town from October 14–16. The event comes at a critical juncture as South Africa seeks to translate its vast mineral endowment into new investment, production, infrastructure and jobs while improving the regulatory environment needed to support long-term project development.

 

AMW 2026 will feature senior figures from across South Africa’s mining and investment ecosystem, including Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Seiso Joel Mohai, Rand Refinery CEO Dean Subramanian, Transnet Freight Rail CEO Russell Baatjies, Gold Fields Executive Vice President: South Africa Benford Mokoatle, Minerals Council of South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane, Standard Bank Managing Principal and Coverage Head for Resources & Energy Shirley Webber, and Executive Head for Energy, Infrastructure and Mining, Business and Commercial Banking Deerosh Maharaj, among other industry leaders.

 

Through high-level discussions, project showcases and networking sessions, AMW 2026 will examine South Africa’s evolving regulatory environment, expanding project pipeline and investment opportunities across the mining value chain. The conference will provide a platform for investors and industry stakeholders to explore how public-private partnerships, domestic capital and international investment can accelerate the next phase of South Africa’s mining growth.

 

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

 




 

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Energy

How Guyana’s Expanding Oil Sector Is Driving Historic Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth and Local Investment

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Etu Energias

Ahead of Caribbean Energy Week 2027, a launch event in Georgetown on September 1, 2026, will explore Guyana’s ambitious economic growth targets and the role of the oil and gas industry in driving GDP expansion

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, August 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Guyana’s projected 16.2% GDP growth in 2026, underpinned by an anticipated 17.9% rise in oil production and $2.79 billion in oil revenues, underscores how is the oil and gas sector is transforming the economy. 




 

Higher Oil Production Targets Drive Guyana’s Economic Expansion

With oil output expected to average 840,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2026, with 309 crude cargoes forecast for export compared with 260 cargoes in 2025, the sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to remain bullish.

The government is targeting crude oil production of 1.3 million bpd by 2027 and 1.7 million bpd by 2030, creating the foundation for higher export earnings, stronger fiscal revenues and continued GDP expansion. Upcoming developments, including the $12.7 billion Uaru project, Whiptail, Hammerhead and Longtail, are expected to significantly increase production, and expand the sector’s contribution to an anticipated to reach GDP of between $50 billion and $69 billion by 2030.

Oil Investment Creates Opportunities Beyond Production

The sector’s contribution extends well beyond crude exports, with projects development accelerating the growth of a broader domestic economy as capital flows into construction, logistics, engineering, manufacturing, transport and financial services. The sector spent an estimated $3.6 billion with local businesses between 2019 – when first oil production was achieved – and 2025, reflecting the success of Guyana’s local content framework in ensuring that petroleum development generates tangible economic benefits for domestic companies and communities.

The petroleum sector has been the primary driver of Guyana’s exceptional economic performance. Oil production supported GDP growth of 63.3% in 2022, 33.8% in 2023, 43.6% in 2024 and 10.3% in 2025. According to the International Monetary Fund, offshore oil development has enabled Guyana’s economy to significantly outperform regional peers while accelerating its transition toward high-income economy status. The sector has also transformed the country’s fiscal position, with the Natural Resource Fund exceeding $3.1 billion by the end of 2024, including more than $1.1 billion deposited during 2024 alone, providing the government with unprecedented resources to finance national development priorities.

Oil Wealth Funds Infrastructure and Social Development

Oil revenues are also becoming a key source of financing for Guyana’s national development agenda. The government plans to utilize petroleum revenues to construct 40,000 homes over the next five years, while simultaneously investing in critical infrastructure, healthcare, education and transportation. In the energy sector alone, oil revenues are funding flagship initiatives such as the 300 MW Gas-to-Energy project, transmission network upgrades and clean cooking solutions, supporting energy mix diversification, improving electricity affordability and strengthening grid reliability.

As production continues to grow and new offshore projects enter development, oil and gas will play an increasingly important role in shaping Guyana’s economic future. Beyond generating export revenues and fiscal income, the sector is strengthening local industries, attracting international capital, supporting infrastructure development and creating opportunities across manufacturing, construction, finance and technology.

Caribbean Energy Week 2027 to Spotlight Guyana’s Growth Story

The role of oil and gas in driving GDP growth, investment and economic transformation will be a central focus at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme “Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub.” Bringing together governments and international partners, the conference will examine how Guyana and the wider Caribbean can maximize hydrocarbon revenues to unlock the next phase of regional economic growth.

Ahead of the conference, an in-country launch in Guyana on 1, September 2026 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, will explore strategies driving the Caribbean’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing energy markets. The event will bring together government officials, investors, operators and industry stakeholders for an early look at the opportunities, priorities and partnerships that will shape the region’s energy future. To register, please visit https://apo-opa.co/46phc9L.

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

 




 

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Energy

Halliburton Repositions for Venezuela’s Upstream Revival at Venezuela Energy Week 2027

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Etu Energias

Halliburton will join Venezuela Energy Week as a Platinum Sponsor as international operators accelerate efforts to restore production, reactivate drilling capacity and rebuild the oilfield services ecosystem

CARACAS, Venezuela, August 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Halliburton has joined Venezuela Energy Week 2027 as a Platinum Sponsor, bringing one of the world’s leading oilfield services companies into a market where international operators are moving to restore production and expand upstream activity. Taking place February 22–25 in Caracas, Venezuela Energy Week comes as a new investment cycle is creating fresh demand for drilling, well services, reservoir evaluation and production technologies.
 




 

Halliburton has already begun repositioning its Venezuelan operations for the changing market. In April, Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Miller said the company was discussing commercial terms with customers and had visited its Venezuelan facilities, which he said were in better condition than expected. In July, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered the restart of Halliburton’s operations and the return of previously seized assets, removing a significant legal obstacle to the company’s reactivation. Halliburton has since posted new positions in Venezuela, including roles in Maturín covering logging and perforating maintenance and supply-chain procurement, as well as a technical sales position in Zulia.

The timing reflects growing demand for oilfield services as Venezuela moves to reactivate mature fields, expand drilling and bring new investment into production. Halliburton’s capabilities span the full well lifecycle, including drilling, formation evaluation, well construction, completion and production, with services such as well intervention, cementing and stimulation increasingly important as operators work to restore aging wells and infrastructure. As new investment moves from agreements into field activity, Halliburton is positioned to provide the technical expertise and equipment required to translate Venezuela’s resource potential into additional production.

The investment environment is also changing. Venezuela’s January 2026 reform of the Organic Hydrocarbons Law opened new avenues for private participation in primary hydrocarbons activities, including operating and production contracts under which private companies can assume technical, operational and financial management. Subsequent regulations issued in July established the framework for royalties and the integrated hydrocarbons tax, while oil companies have been working to migrate existing agreements into the new regime.

This evolving framework is creating an increasingly important role for international oilfield service companies capable of supplying technology, equipment and technical expertise at scale. Halliburton’s renewed engagement comes as Venezuela moves from regulatory reform and investment agreements toward the practical work of drilling wells, restoring production and expanding field capacity.

At Venezuela Energy Week 2027, Halliburton will bring its renewed Venezuelan presence into discussions on the practical requirements of production growth, from drilling and well construction to completion and intervention. Its Platinum Sponsorship will place the company at the center of conversations around how Venezuela can rebuild oilfield capacity and translate new investment into additional barrels.

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

 




 

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