PARAMARIBO, Suriname, March 3, 2026/APO Group/ –Minister of Oil, Gas and Environment of Suriname, Patrick Brunings, will deliver a keynote address at Caribbean Energy Week (CEW) 2026, taking place March 30-April 1 in Paramaribo, Suriname. Minister Brunings’ participation is one of the most anticipated contributions to this year’s agenda, bringing firsthand insight into Suriname’s accelerating energy sector transformation and regional collaboration initiatives.

 

Suriname is rapidly positioning itself as a significant player in the Caribbean’s energy landscape amid a series of deepwater discoveries and expanding upstream activity. The Guyana–Suriname basin has yielded a string of major hydrocarbon finds, with TotalEnergies and partners advancing the GranMorgu project in Block 58 – expected to deliver first oil by 2028 from an estimated 750 million barrels of recoverable reserves. These developments, backed by multi‑billion‑dollar capital commitments, signal a transition from exploration to phased production and infrastructure buildout. At least ten additional wells are anticipated offshore between 2025 and 2027, highlighting the basin’s continued exploration momentum.

 

In recent months, Suriname’s energy strategy has also extended into natural gas opportunities. Minister Brunings confirmed plans to establish a joint technical team with neighboring Guyana to evaluate combined gas resources and infrastructure scenarios, potentially expanding the scope of regional energy cooperation and unlocking broader investment prospects.

 

In recent statements, Minister Brunings has expressed both enthusiasm for Suriname’s prospects and caution about managing the sector’s growth responsibly. In late 2025, he underscored the need for structural economic transformation – what he described as accelerating toward “Suriname 3.0” – with a focus on preparedness for incoming investments and ensuring that offshore developments deliver sustainable benefits for the country’s economy.

 

His participation at CEW 2026 will provide industry and investment audiences with direct insight into Suriname’s evolving regulatory environment, resource plans and regional integration aspirations. As the country prepares to host its first major regional energy summit, Minister Brunings is expected to outline policy frameworks designed to attract foreign capital while strengthening local capacity and environmental stewardship.

 

“Sustainable and inclusive development is at the heart of Suriname’s energy vision, and Caribbean Energy Week,” said Sandra Jeque, International Conference Director at Energy Capital & Power. “Minister Brunings’ keynote will be invaluable for delegates seeking a clearer understanding of how Suriname intends to leverage its resource potential, foster cross‑border cooperation and balance growth with responsible stewardship.”

 

Caribbean Energy Week will convene policymakers, investors and industry leaders to discuss licensing rounds, financing models and energy transition pathways as the Caribbean region – led by frontier producers like Suriname – reshapes its role in global energy markets.

 

Join us in shaping the future of Caribbean energy. To participate in this landmark event, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 2, 2026/APO Group/ –Vantage Capital (www.VantageCapital.co.za), Africa’s largest mezzanine debt fund manager, announced that it has made a R635m investment into Commercial Energy South Africa (“CESA”), a subsidiary of SolarAfrica Energy (“SolarAfrica”), a leading South African energy solutions provider, alongside co-investor, Greenpoint Capital. CESA holds commercial & industrial (“C&I”) solar and battery energy assets developed by SolarAfrica.

 

The investment comprises a mezzanine facility which was used to exit Inspired Evolution from CESA, making SolarAfrica the 100% owner of CESA.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, SolarAfrica provides solar-PV, battery storage, energy trading, electricity wheeling and gas-to-power services tailored for C&I clients, helping businesses lower electricity costs, secure reliable power and reduce carbon emissions. SolarAfrica has a strong track record, having delivered ~343MW of funded solar projects in Southern Africa (with a further 1.14GW plus being rolled out).  SolarAfrica has been twice recognised as the African Solar Company of the Year (2021 and 2023) by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA).

CESA acts as a holding company for C&I rooftop solar and battery storage solutions assets that have been developed by SolarAfrica. CESA currently holds a portfolio of assets with energy capacity of ~90MW across 134 different sites. All assets within CESA are managed by SolarAfrica.

Roshal Ramdenee, Partner at Vantage Capital, said “This transaction reflects our conviction in distributed energy infrastructure and the strength of SolarAfrica’s platform. CESA’s contracted C&I solar and battery portfolio provides predictable cash flows and supports South Africa’s shift to reliable and sustainable power. We look forward to working closely with SolarAfrica and Greenpoint as the platform continues to scale.”

Warren van der Merwe, Managing Partner at Vantage Capital, added “Vantage has provided senior debt to a number of renewable energy projects through its GreenX senior debt division. We are pleased to showcase in this deal how mezzanine finance can play a part in the rapidly evolving power sector. Congratulations to Charl and his team for driving a super-efficient process, which allowed us to close this deal under very tight timelines.”

Nic van Zyl, CIO at Greenpoint Capital, added “We are pleased to have finalised this transaction in support of the SolarAfrica team, whose progress we have tracked over many years. We look forward to collaborating with Vantage Capital on this high-quality solar asset.”

Charl Alheit, CIO at SolarAfrica, added “Vantage Capital and Greenpoint Capital have proven to be very innovative and efficient partners in enabling us to execute the buy-out of this portfolio from Inspired Evolution. Taking full control of the portfolio means we can continue to innovate by bringing more renewable energy solutions, such as electricity wheeling, to customers. This underscores our commitment to making cheaper, greener power more accessible to C&I businesses as part of their green energy journey.”

Step Advisory acted as deal advisor to SolarAfrica on the transaction, Werksmans acted as legal counsel for Vantage. Other advisors to the transaction included Cresco, Ernst and Young, Webber Wentzel and SLR Consulting.

CARACUS, Venezuela, February 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Venezuela’s leading petroleum authorities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) – the voice of the African energy sector – aimed at strengthening investment and collaboration across the oil, gas and broader energy sector. The agreement was signed by the Ministry of People’s Power for Hydrocarbons of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the country’s state-owned oil corporation Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), establishing a formal framework for long-term cooperation across the hydrocarbon value chain. Signed in Caracas during a high-level working visit by the AEC, the agreement lays the foundation for structured collaboration in upstream development, refining, training and joint investment promotion, reinforcing a shared vision of deeper integration in the energy sector.

 

Collaboration as a Catalyst for Energy Investment and Development

The MoU recognizes Africa’s growing strategic role in global oil and gas markets as well as Venezuela’s longstanding experience as a major hydrocarbon producer. The primary purpose of the agreement is to strengthen cooperation through the exchange of experiences, perspectives, information and best practices, while identifying and advancing joint projects of mutual interest.

Areas of cooperation include joint studies on liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon market dynamics; technology associated with exploration, production and refining; sustainable environmental management; and pathways to guarantee universal access to energy. The parties will also exchange regulatory and institutional best practices, evaluate successful case studies and promote enabling frameworks that facilitate investment across the value chain.

The MoU further provides for coordinated outreach activities, including joint publications, seminars, training programs and site visits, with a specific focus on promoting investment in upstream and midstream assets. Importantly, the agreement outlines plans to evaluate initiatives for asset rehabilitation, infrastructure development and improved commercialization mechanisms.

“This MoU reflects a shared vision between Africa and Venezuela to strengthen cooperation across the hydrocarbons value chain and ensure that producers work more closely together. By combining Venezuela’s deep technical experience with Africa’s dynamic growth and investment landscape, we are creating a structured platform for knowledge exchange, joint project development and long-term collaboration that supports energy security, industrialization and sustainable development,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

Institutional Mechanisms and Implementation

To ensure tangible outcomes, the MoU establishes clear implementation mechanisms. A Joint Working Group will be formed within 60 days of the signing, composed of representatives from each party. The Working Group will define work plans, identify specific projects, review progress and evaluate results. Focus areas will include exploration, commercialization and technical training. The parties also agreed to coordinate positions on oil industry issues in the context of global development goals, reflecting a shared commitment to realistic, balanced discussions around hydrocarbons and sustainable growth.

For Africa, the MoU represents a strategic expansion of the continent’s energy diplomacy and commercial footprint, positioning African companies, investors and technical experts as active participants in one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon provinces. It reinforces Africa’s role not only as a destination for capital, but as a source of expertise, structured investment and leadership in oil and gas development. For Venezuela, the agreement strengthens its international engagement at a pivotal moment in its production recovery strategy, opening structured channels to African capital, operators and service providers while amplifying its energy narrative across the continent through the AEC’s institutional and industry platforms.