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Upstream Petroleum Unit Joins Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) 2026 Amid Namibia’s Drive for First Oil

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Namibia’s Upstream Petroleum Unit will participate in NIEC 2026, engaging investors and stakeholders to advance upstream policy, attract investment and support the country’s first oil ambitions

WINDHOEK, Namibia, February 5, 2026/APO Group/ –Namibia’s newly established Upstream Petroleum Unit (UPU) – operating directly under the Presidency – has confirmed its participation at the 8th Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC), taking place from April14-16, 2026, in Windhoek. As Namibia edges closer to first oil, the Petroleum Unit’s involvement signals the government’s commitment to shaping upstream policy, fostering investment and promoting partnership between regulators and industry.

 

The UPU, led by Kornelia Shilunga, Special Advisory and Head, and Carlo McLeod, Special Advisor and Deputy Head, is responsible for overseeing the country’s upstream petroleum sector. Established within the Presidency, the Unit develops regulatory frameworks, monitors compliance and ensures Namibia’s oil and gas policies create an enabling, investor-friendly environment. Its presence at NIEC 2026 will allow the Unit to engage directly with international and local stakeholders, highlight Namibia’s regulatory and governance priorities and discuss strategies for sustainable upstream development.

Now in its 8th edition, NIEC has established itself as Namibia’s premier energy platform. The conference convenes policymakers, investors, regulators, service providers, financial institutions, innovators and civil society, providing a forum to discuss developments across oil, gas, renewables, nuclear and power generation. For the UPU, NIEC 2026 offers a unique venue to present the government’s upstream priorities in the context of Namibia’s broader energy transition, including first oil production targeted for 2029.

The active participation of the Upstream Petroleum Unit at NIEC 2026 underscores the country’s commitment to creating a transparent, investment-ready upstream sector

Namibia’s upstream sector is currently experiencing significant momentum. TotalEnergies is preparing a final investment decision for its Venus project in 2026, while new discoveries by Rhino Resources and Galp Energia are attracting investor interest. New players have either entered the market or consolidated their portfolios in recent years. Oregen Energy increased its ownership in WestOil Limited, granting the company a 33.95% indirect interest in Block 2712A; Eco (Atlantic) secured the PEL 97, 98, 99 and 100 licenses; while Stamper Oil & Gas Corp acquired BISP Exploration Inc., gaining access to five oil and gas blocks in the Orange, Walvis and Lüderitz basins.

At the same time, Namibia is investing in renewables, green hydrogen, nuclear and grid expansion, demonstrating a holistic approach to energy security and diversification. The UPU’s participation ensures that upstream petroleum development remains aligned with these wider national objectives.

Over the years, NIEC has evolved from a platform for dialogue into a strategic hub for investment and partnership. With over 2,500 delegates expected from more than 45 countries, 400 speakers and participation from more than 1,500 companies, the conference provides the UPU with a high-profile stage to engage key stakeholders. The conference also emphasizes in-country value creation, local skills development and youth engagement through initiatives such as the Future Energy Leaders Program and internship opportunities.

“Namibia is at a pivotal moment in its energy journey,” says Selma Shimutwikeni, Founder and CEO of RichAfrica Consultancy. “The active participation of the Upstream Petroleum Unit at NIEC 2026 underscores the country’s commitment to creating a transparent, investment-ready upstream sector. This engagement will not only attract global investors but also ensure that Namibia’s first oil ambitions are achieved responsibly, sustainably and with maximum in-country value.”

By participating in NIEC 2026, the UPU reinforces the government’s focus on building a strong, well-regulated upstream sector capable of supporting Namibia’s first oil ambitions while attracting sustainable investment. The Unit’s active engagement at the conference will play a key role in ensuring that Namibia’s upstream petroleum sector grows responsibly, transparently and in alignment with the country’s energy transition goals.

The African Energy Chamber serves as the strategic partner of NIEC 2026, working alongside government and industry to advance investment, local content and responsible energy development in Namibia.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Angola Strengthens Global Investment Drive Across Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources

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With sweeping reforms across the extractive sector, Angola is entering a new phase defined by transparency, regulatory modernisation, value addition, and international partnership

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –At a defining moment in Angola’s economic transformation, the Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG) (https://CMAGAfrica.com), together with the Government of Angola and the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas of the Republic of Angola (MIREMPET), will convene global investors, policymakers, and industry leaders in London for the Angola Oil, Gas & Mining Investment Conference on 14 May 2026.

 

More than a conference, this gathering represents a strategic international engagement at a time when Angola is actively reshaping its economic future and positioning itself as one of Africa’s most compelling destinations for long-term investment in natural resources, infrastructure, and industrial development.

With sweeping reforms across the extractive sector, Angola is entering a new phase defined by transparency, regulatory modernisation, value addition, and international partnership. The country’s leadership is sending a clear message to global markets: Angola is open for investment and ready to build transformational partnerships that support sustainable growth and economic diversification.

This is not simply about resource development, it is about building long-term industrial growth, strengthening energy and mineral supply chains, and shaping Angola’s future

The event will be headlined by H.E. Diamantino Azevedo, Minister for Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas of Angola, whose leadership since 2017 has been central to advancing Angola’s mineral and hydrocarbons agenda. Under his stewardship, Angola has accelerated institutional reform, strengthened governance frameworks, promoted private sector participation, and prioritised sustainable resource development.

As global demand intensifies for critical minerals, energy security, and resilient supply chains, Angola is uniquely positioned to become a strategic partner to international investors and industrial economies. The country’s vast untapped mineral wealth, significant oil and gas reserves, expanding infrastructure ambitions, and commitment to economic diversification present a rare investment window for global stakeholders.

Speaking ahead of the event, Veronica Bolton Smith, CEO of the Critical Minerals Africa Group said:

“Angola stands at a pivotal point in its national development. The reforms taking place across the country’s extractive sectors are creating unprecedented opportunities for responsible international investment and strategic partnership. This is not simply about resource development, it is about building long-term industrial growth, strengthening energy and mineral supply chains, and shaping Angola’s future as a globally competitive investment destination. We believe this moment represents one of the most important opportunities for international partners to engage with Angola’s leadership and participate in the country’s next chapter of economic transformation.”

The event is expected to attract a distinguished international audience, including sovereign representatives, institutional investors, mining and energy executives, infrastructure developers, development finance institutions, and strategic partners seeking direct engagement with Angola’s leadership.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG).

 

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African Union (AU) Commissioner Mataboge Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as Continent Scales Interconnected Energy Infrastructure

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Lerato Mataboge’s participation reflects the African Union’s commitment to transforming African energy systems, prioritizing African-led innovation and priorities

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Lerato D. Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union (AU), has joined the upcoming African Energy Week (AEW) Conference and Exhibition – taking place October 12-16 in Cape Town – as a speaker. Her participation puts the AU’s institutional voice at the center of the event at a moment when the continental body is moving from policy architecture to execution, and growing increasingly vocal about the conditions it will and will not accept from international partners.

 

Mataboge has been among the clearest African voices pushing back on the terms of the global energy transition debate. At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026, she challenged the prevailing narrative, arguing that baseload power is a non-negotiable prerequisite for African industrialization and that the continent cannot be assessed by the same benchmarks applied to economies that already have reliable electricity. Africa holds around 20% of the world’s identified uranium resources yet accounts for less than 1% of global nuclear electricity consumption, a disparity she has cited as emblematic of a broader pattern of resource wealth that has yet to translate into energy sovereignty.

Commissioner Mataboge is the institutional link between Africa’s continental energy ambitions and the investors and developers who can make them real

Speaking in Cape Town in March, Mataboge noted that Africa has approximately 245 GW of installed generation capacity, while electricity consumption averages around 600 kWh per person per year, roughly five times below the global average. Closing the gap means connecting between 90 and 100 million additional people to electricity annually, requiring roughly $200 billion in annual investment by 2030 against a current annual investment level of approximately $45 billion.

Mataboge’s mandate at the AU is to build the institutional architecture that can begin to mobilize that capital at scale. She is overseeing the operationalization of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), which aims to integrate the continent’s fragmented regional power pools into a unified electricity market, alongside the Continental Power Systems Masterplan and the Ten-Year Infrastructure Investment Plan for Cross-Border Connectivity, the AU’s master pipeline for transmission and generation projects. These frameworks have been in development for years, but the challenge has been turning them into bankable propositions that attract private capital. At AEW 2026, that case will be made to the investors and developers who can act on it.

“Commissioner Mataboge is the institutional link between Africa’s continental energy ambitions and the investors and developers who can make them real,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Her message is clear – that Africa will not subordinate its development needs to external financing conditions that were never designed with this continent in mind. AEW is the right room to have that conversation, and the right moment.”

AEW 2026 – Africa’s premier energy event – convenes Africa’s foremost policymakers, financiers, developers and operators to advance the continent’s energy agenda. Commissioner Mataboge’s address will place the AU’s institutional framework, and the financing gap it is working to close, at center stage.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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InterOil’s Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Silver Sponsorship Reflects Drive to Scale Logistics, Local Content

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Integrated logistics, local workforce development and offshore execution converge as Angola’s project pipeline expands

LUANDA, Angola, May 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Angolan oilfield services provider InterOil has joined the upcoming Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition as a Silver Sponsor, taking place September 9-10 with a pre-conference on September 8. For over 21 years, InterOil has worked alongside international operators, playing a strategic role in maintaining stable and reliable offshore activities. It’s AOG sponsorship not only demonstrates a commitment to the growth of the industry, but positions the logistics and offshore support provider at the center of Angola’s next wave of deepwater and infrastructure-led projects.

InterOil’s sponsorship reflects a core reality in Angola’s hydrocarbon market: as projects become more complex and move into deeper waters, the ability to sustain operations through integrated logistics solutions is emerging as a defining constraint. The company’s model – combining onshore coordination with offshore execution – addresses this directly, ensuring continuity across high-intensity operations where downtime carries significant financial and technical risk.

Operating in a complex offshore environment, InterOil has built its track record around reliability and operational discipline. A key reference point is the Kaombo development in Block 32, operated by TotalEnergies. Since 2014, the company has supported the project through integrated onshore and offshore logistics, sustaining operations for both the FPSO Kaombo North and FPSO Kaombo South. The development remains one of Angola’s most technically complex offshore assets, and InterOil’s role in maintaining operational continuity underscores the importance of logistics providers in stabilizing production and ensuring efficiency at scale.

This operational focus is complemented by a long-term commitment to local content development. InterOil has prioritized the recruitment, training and advancement of Angolan professionals, embedding structured capacity-building and knowledge transfer into its operating model. In a market where local participation is both a regulatory requirement and a strategic imperative, this approach supports workforce development while reinforcing operational resilience.

As Angola seeks to sustain production above one million barrels per day by expanding infrastructure, accelerating offshore projects and deepening local participation across the value chain, the role of logistics providers is becoming more strategic. AOG 2026 provides a platform where these capabilities are integrated into broader project discussions, connecting operators, service providers and investors around execution as a core pillar of project success. InterOil’s participation underscores a broader industry shift: in Angola’s next phase of growth, operational delivery will carry as much weight as resource potential.

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

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