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U.S.-Africa Energy & Minerals Forum Expands to Critical Minerals and Supply Chain Security

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This year’s U.S.-Africa Energy & Minerals Forum in Houston signals a strategic shift toward integrated energy and critical minerals investment, strengthening U.S. partnerships across Africa’s resource and industrial value chains

HOUSTON, United States of America, February 26, 2026/APO Group/ –The U.S.-Africa Energy & Minerals Forum (USAEMF) has relaunched with a dedicated focus on critical minerals, marking an important evolution in its role as a platform for U.S.-Africa commercial engagement. Building on its foundation in energy, power and industrial projects, the forum’s expanded scope positions it at the center of investment conversations shaping the future energy economy.

 

Scheduled for July 21–22, 2026, in Houston, Texas, USAEMF comes at a time of surging global demand for copper, cobalt, lithium, manganese and rare earth elements, driven by electrification, battery storage, AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. Africa is increasingly critical to securing these materials, highlighting how energy and minerals are now interconnected pillars of industrial growth, geopolitical stability and decarbonization.

The forum’s minerals mandate deepens engagement with African producers – particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), home to some of the world’s largest copper and cobalt reserves. Momentum is building through the U.S.–DRC strategic minerals framework and the U.S.-backed Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, a major investment platform supported by the DFC and private partners. The consortium is pursuing a 40% stake in the Mutanda and Kamoto copper-cobalt operations in a $9 billion transaction, securing long-term supply for allied markets while reinforcing cooperation on infrastructure, security and supply-chain governance.

Placing critical minerals at the center while maintaining strong hydrocarbons engagement strengthens U.S.-Africa commercial ties

U.S. financing is also expanding across the region, with the DFC managing a continental portfolio exceeding $13 billion to support mining, processing and transport infrastructure for critical mineral supply chains. Recent commitments include rare earth, graphite and potash projects in Malawi, Mozambique and Gabon; broader investments in Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa; and $553 million linked to the development of the Lobito Corridor. The DFC is also a major backer of TechMet, a U.S.-supported investment firm valued at over $1 billion, which is raising up to $200 million to expand copper, cobalt, lithium and rare earth assets and pursue new opportunities across the DRC and Zambia. Together, these initiatives underscore Washington’s push to diversify battery-mineral supply while positioning Africa as a long-term partner in clean energy and industrial value chains.

Houston’s role as host city reflects the alignment between American industrial capacity and African resource development. Long established as a global energy hub, the city is expanding into energy transition technologies, advanced materials, carbon management and industrial innovation. By convening African governments with U.S. private equity, development finance institutions, exporters, insurers and technical service providers, the forum creates a commercial platform capable of converting mineral potential into bankable projects.

“The evolution from USAEF to USAEMF reflects a broader shift toward integrated energy and mineral development,” states Nadine Levin, Portfolio Director at Energy Capital & Power, forum organizers. “Placing critical minerals at the center while maintaining strong hydrocarbons engagement strengthens U.S.-Africa commercial ties and advances projects that deliver long-term shared value.”

While critical minerals define the forum’s strategic expansion, the U.S.’ longstanding role in Africa’s energy sector remains central to the platform’s value proposition. American energy companies continue to advance exploration and development across key upstream markets, support gas monetization in the Gulf of Guinea and revitalize mature production in North Africa. U.S. export credit and development finance are also helping unlock large-scale LNG capacity in Mozambique while supporting optimization and expansion across existing gas infrastructure in West Africa – demonstrating how American capital, engineering expertise and risk-mitigation tools convert resource potential into delivered energy systems.

USAEMF is the leading platform connecting U.S. capital and technical expertise with Africa’s energy and minerals sectors. For more information or to participate at the upcoming forum, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com

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

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S&P Global Energy, CLC Solutions and Colibri Bring Market Intelligence to African Mining Week (AMW) 2026

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Leading market intelligence and advisory experts will examine the investment trends, policy reforms, infrastructure and local content strategies shaping the future of Africa’s mining sector at this year’s African Mining Week

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 27, 2026/APO Group/ –The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – Africa’s Most Influential Mining Conference, taking place October 14–16 in Cape Town – will feature experts from leading market intelligence and advisory firms, including S&P Global Energy, Colibri Business Development and CLC Solutions, across high-level panel discussions and exclusive networking sessions.

 

With the continent holding around 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, these firms are providing strategic insights into market trends, policy reform and investment opportunities while supporting governments in developing competitive regulatory frameworks that attract international capital.

Experts from S&P Global Energy will lead several strategic discussions throughout the event. As African governments prioritize mineral beneficiation and downstream industrialization, building competitive value chains has become central to mining policy. Atul Arya, Chief Energy Strategist, will join the Strategic Minerals: Developing a Value Chain that Works for Africa ministerial panel, offering insights into the policy and investment strategies needed to strengthen regional value chains.

Regional infrastructure development will also feature prominently at AMW 2026. Rahul Kapoor, Vice President and Head of Shipping & Metals, will examine investment in transport corridors and cross-border infrastructure during the Regional Connectivity: Financing Africa’s Mineral Infrastructure panel, highlighting projects such as the Lobito Corridor and TAZARA Railway and their role in supporting regional industrialization.

Addressing operational challenges across the sector, Gavin Montgomery, Critical Minerals Market Lead, will participate in the Accelerating Mineral Production: The Energy, Water & Waste Nexus panel. He will explore strategies to improve mining competitiveness through reliable energy supply and sustainable resource management as operators increasingly adopt renewable power purchase agreements, onsite generation, power wheeling and long-term fuel supply agreements to strengthen operational resilience.

Broader geopolitical dynamics will also take center stage at AMW 2026. Thomas Rodriguez, Local Content Director and Developer at CLC Solutions, will participate in the Africa’s Mining Opportunity in the Geopolitical Sphere session, examining how global competition for critical minerals is reshaping investment flows and creating new opportunities for African mining jurisdictions.

As governments intensify efforts to increase in-country value addition, local content and supplier development have become central to mining policy. Ileana Ferber, Founder and CEO of Colibri Business Development, will join the Strengthening Local Content in Africa’s Mining Supply Chain panel to discuss strategies for expanding local procurement, developing competitive supplier ecosystems and increasing the participation of domestic businesses across Africa’s mining value chain.

By convening market intelligence firms, advisory experts, policymakers, investors and mining leaders, AMW 2026 provides a platform for informed dialogue that supports investment decisions and advances the sustainable development of Africa’s mining sector.

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

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Bestselling Angola Reform Book Set for Exclusive Luanda Launch on September 2

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The Amazon bestseller will be launched in Luanda this September, offering insight into the reforms that help shaped the country’s oil and gas market

LUANDA, Angola, July 27, 2026/APO Group/ —Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola {https://apo-opa.co/4wnVNZP} – the latest bestselling book by African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org) Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk – will take center stage in Luanda on September 2 with an exclusive launch event at the InterContinental Luanda Miramar. The Luanda launch brings the book directly to the country at the heart of its story, convening Angola’s oil and gas industry around an examination of the policies, leadership and investment decisions that have reshaped one of Africa’s largest oil-producing markets.

 

Released earlier this year, Crude Oil debuted as a Top Amazon New Release. A Portuguese edition was also released in July, expanding access to readers across Angola and the wider Lusophone market. Blending political history, industry analysis and first-hand perspectives from key decision-makers, Crude Oil traces Angola’s evolution through periods of production decline, economic pressure and structural change to its emergence as one of Africa’s most attractive upstream investment destinations. The book features perspectives from Diamantino Azevedo, Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, alongside Sonangol Chairman of the Board Sebastião Gaspar Martins and National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) Chairman Paulino Jerónimo.

At the center of the book is Angola’s reform agenda and the role it has played in restoring investor confidence and stimulating exploration. Under efforts to curb production decline and attract capital into both mature and frontier basins, the country established a dedicated upstream regulator (ANPG) and downstream regulator (IRDP), while embarked on a multi-year licensing round targeting 50 concessions by 2025. The introduction of a Permanent Offer Regime further opened the market to international capital while policies such as the Incremental Production Decree and Marginal Field program further stimulated investment.

Angola has demonstrated that reform is most powerful when it is followed by execution

These measures have been accompanied by renewed investment from international and independent operators alike. TotalEnergies, Azule Energy, ExxonMobil and Chevron have since expanded their portfolios through license extensions at legacy assets and forays into Namibe and Benguela, while Shell and Petrobras returned to Angola’s deepwater basins in 2025. Onshore, independents are leading drilling and seismic campaigns, led by Afentra, Corcel, Etu Energias, Oando and more. Following a restructuring, Sonangol strengthened its status as an operator through projects spanning both onshore and offshore margins.

The investment push is translating into new production. Begonia and CLOV Phase 3 came online in 2025, collectively adding 60,000 barrels per day, while the commissioning of the Agogo FPSO supported the next phase of the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development. The Kaminho deepwater development is advancing toward a 2028 start, reinforcing the role of large-scale offshore investment in Angola’s long-term production outlook. With up to $70 billion in upstream investment planned over the next five years, the book argues that Angola’s experience offers lessons beyond its own borders: regulatory predictability, competitive fiscal terms and institutional reform can turn resource potential into sustained capital deployment.

“Angola has demonstrated that reform is most powerful when it is followed by execution. The country made difficult decisions, listened to investors, strengthened its institutions and created mechanisms that allowed capital to return to exploration and production,” states Ayuk.

The September 2 launch in Luanda will provide a platform to reflect on the industry’s transformation while looking ahead to the next phase of Angola’s oil and gas development. As new exploration, major projects and billions of dollars in investment move forward, Crude Oil presents Angola’s turnaround not as a completed chapter, but as a reform playbook whose ultimate success will be measured by sustained investment, production and economic impact.

To register, click here https://apo-opa.co/4wnVNZP.

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Why Venezuela’s Energy Reforms Are Bringing Investors Back to the Table in London

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The Venezuela Energy Week London Industry Showcase taking place next week will unpack the regulatory changes, upstream economics and market opportunities shaping the country’s next investment cycle

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 27, 2026/APO Group/ –With Venezuela introducing sweeping reforms to its hydrocarbons sector and renewed international interest gathering pace, the Venezuela Energy Week London Industry Showcase will bring together policymakers, investors and industry leaders on July 30 to examine how the country’s evolving investment landscape is reshaping opportunities across the oil and gas value chain. Hosted as part of the lead-up to Venezuela Energy Week 2026, the event will move beyond discussions of resource potential to focus on the commercial realities driving the sector’s next phase of growth.

 

The agenda opens with a keynote address outlining the government’s strategic vision for the sector, including production targets, investment priorities and the policy framework designed to attract long-term international capital. As Venezuela works to accelerate upstream development, the session will offer insight into the country’s roadmap for rebuilding one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon industries. That strategy is already translating into commercial activity: Repsol signed an agreement in April with Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and PDVSA to regain operational control of the Petroquiriquire joint venture and increase production, followed in June by a memorandum of understanding to evaluate development of the Horcón area near Lake Maracaibo.

Building on this outlook, attendees will receive an in-depth overview of Venezuela’s newly enacted hydrocarbons law and its implementing regulations. The session will examine the upstream business models now available under the revised framework and how they are expanding investment flexibility across exploration, development and production. The reforms are already reshaping the operating landscape, with Chevron, Repsol and Eni among the international companies currently migrating their contracts to Venezuela’s new hydrocarbons regime, which provides greater operational autonomy under an updated fiscal framework.

The commercial case for investment will come into focus through an asset-level assessment of Venezuela’s upstream competitiveness. Focusing on mature fields in the Maracaibo Basin and extra-heavy crude developments in the Orinoco Belt, the session will evaluate field valuations, breakeven economics and the competitive advantages created by the country’s revised fiscal regime, giving investors a clearer picture of where value is emerging. In April, Chevron signed two agreements with PDVSA to increase its stake in the Petroindependencia joint venture to 49% and add the Ayacucho 8 block alongside its Petropiar operations, further strengthening its position in the Orinoco Belt.

As production continues to recover, efficient routes to international buyers will play an equally important role in sustaining growth. A dedicated presentation will examine how Venezuela is optimizing storage infrastructure, strengthening export logistics and rerouting crude into premium global markets following the significant inventory clearances achieved earlier this year. The improving export outlook is also drawing renewed interest from international commodity traders, including Vitol and Trafigura, as Venezuelan crude volumes increasingly return to global markets.

The program concludes with a high-level panel discussion featuring international companies with firsthand experience operating in Venezuela. The conversation will examine the practical realities of doing business in the country, from investment and partnership opportunities to operational challenges and the outlook for future collaboration under the evolving regulatory framework.

As the first international event leading up to Venezuela Energy Week 2026, the London Industry Showcase offers a timely opportunity for the global energy community to assess how policy reform, competitive project economics and improving market access are converging to reposition Venezuela as one of the world’s most closely watched upstream investment destinations.

To register for the London Industry Showcase on July 30, visit https://apo-opa.co/4yMg9OkTo learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the showcase or to secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2026 in Caracas this October, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery

Energy Capital & Power’s thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4fVaait).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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