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VAALCO Energy Landmark Dealings in African Oil Markets to Accelerate Production, Create Opportunities for Future Explorers

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2 years ago

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VAALCO Energy

VAALCO Energy represents one of the leading players in Africa’s oil and gas exploration and production space, whose high-risk appetite for mature projects showcases the continent’s immense hydrocarbon potential

With their boots-on-the-ground working philosophy and appetite for African assets, VAALCO Energy has shown a spirited dedication to bringing energy to where it is needed the most

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 7, 2024/APO Group/ —

In a landmark deal, Houston-based hydrocarbon exploration company VAALCO Energy has reported that all involved parties have finalized a production sharing contract (PSC) for Block P offshore Equatorial Guinea. According to the joint operating agreement, which was approved by the government of Equatorial Guinea in March 2024, the PSC provides for a development and production period of 25 years from the date of approval.

With a resource base of over 20 million barrels of oil, Block P is home to the Venus discovery and an exploration area, operated by VAALCO Energy (60%), alongside Equatorial Guinea’s national oil company GEPetrol (20%) and Nigerian oil and gas company Atlas Petroleum International (20%). VAALCO Energy is nearing a final investment decision on the development, after which the company will move straight into a drilling campaign. The Venus conventional oil field is expected to start commercial production in 2026 and is forecast to peak in 2028.

As the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) commends this significant milestone. The AEC believes that VAALCO Energy’s commitment to boosting offshore oil production marks a critical step towards reversing production declines in Equatorial Guinea. As a major oil and gas producer with proven offshore plays, the country has the potential to contribute to long-term energy security across West Africa. Block P serves as a catalyst to this goal and the AEC supports VAALCO Energy and its partners in their ongoing exploration and production efforts.

Committed to maximizing Africa’s hydrocarbon potential, VAALCO Energy plans to double its crude production to over 50,000 barrels of oil per day by 2027. The production increase falls under the company’s strategy to grow its output from maturing fields. In another move set to bolster VAALCO Energy’s exploitation of crude resources, the company entered a deal in March 2024 to acquire Swedish offshore exploration company Svenska Petroleum Exploration. The $66.5-million, all-cash transaction includes the acquisition of Svenska’s 27.39% interest in the deepwater producing Baobab field in Block CI-40 offshore Ivory Coast.

Having been significantly de-risked through the drilling of 24 production wells and five injection wells and boasting a 20-year production history, the high-performing Baobab field is poised to serve as an important upside opportunity for VAALCO Energy. As part of efforts to diversify its portfolio and boost production from its African assets, VAALCO Energy is planning a dry-docking and upgrade of Baobab’s FPSO unit in 2025, which will lead to significant production growth from the field’s planned 2026 drilling program.

In addition to Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast, VAALCO Energy is eyeing locations for its next drilling campaign at the Etame block offshore Gabon, with operations set to start in late-2024. So far, the company has extracted 127 million barrels from its Etame permit and is focused on ensuring the block continues to produce over the next decade. VAALCO Energy is maintaining its focus on high production uptime and enhancements at the permit to minimize decline until the new drilling campaign begins and is working to optimize production from new flowline configurations for final processing before being pumped to the field’s FPSO.

VAALCO Energy is deeply committed to community development in the markets where they operate. In 2022, VAALCO Energy launched the Adopt the Beach program to maintain the Cape Lopez Beach in Gabon and partnered with conservation organization Space for Giants to protect Africa’s ecosystems and wildlife. Since 2019, VAALCO Energy has been actively engaged in enhancing local social benefits, with its Solar Lights project aiming to illuminate 2,300 rural areas in Gabon with solar lighting. VAALCO Energy also supports Nissi House, a vital non-governmental organization combating child trafficking and underage labor by providing shelter to at-risk children and their families. The company also ensures that in-country leadership in the countries where it operates are all local and have made a point of hiring Africans on all their projects, which ties into their robust local content strategy.

“With their boots-on-the-ground working philosophy and appetite for African assets, VAALCO Energy has shown a spirited dedication to bringing energy to where it is needed the most. The company continues to work with its partners on the continent – uniting financial resources with technical expertise – to drive high-impact exploration and production programs. The Chamber supports these efforts to exploit Africa’s energy resources for the benefit of the population, while transforming upstream markets into investor-friendly destinations. We see the company as a major contributor to improving Africa’s upstream landscape” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber

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Novum Studio Secures New Funding to Launch Ahoy Project, an AI-Native Enterprise Transformation Platform, Building on Its 20-Million-User Gen Z App Frog

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3 days ago

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July 24, 2026

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Novum Studio
  • Novum Studio has raised a new round of funding to launch Ahoy Project, its enterprise AI solution, with internal testing scheduled for July 2026.
  • Ahoy Project is positioned as the infrastructure for AI-native enterprise transformation – an AI-native communication platform serving as the underlying system, delivered as an end-to-end tailored solution.
  • The launch expands the company beyond Frog, its Gen Z consumer social app that has reached 20 million users across the U.S. and Europe.
  • Novum Studio said it is applying lessons from operating high-frequency social platforms at scale to workplace communication and knowledge systems.

NEW YORK, USA – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 July 2026 – Novum Studio, the company behind Frog – a Gen Z social app often described as a “new-generation Snapchat” – said it has raised a new round of funding and will use the proceeds to launch Ahoy Project, an AI-native enterprise communication and collaboration platform, with internal testing scheduled for July 2026.

The Novum Studio team at London Tech Week 2025.

Unlike conventional workplace software, Ahoy Project will not be sold as a standalone software subscription, the company said. Novum Studio provides the infrastructure and a full tailored solution for enterprises undergoing AI-native transformation, with the communication platform serving as the underlying system on which that transformation is built.

Founded as a consumer social company, Novum Studio has reached more than 20 million users across the U.S. and Europe. Frog gained traction among younger users through spontaneous, real-time sharing designed around authenticity and low-pressure interaction. The company said its experience building large-scale social “spaces” – where millions of people communicate, form groups and coordinate in real time — directly informs its approach to enterprise collaboration.

The new funding will support the launch and international expansion of the enterprise business as artificial intelligence reshapes how organizations communicate, collaborate and operate, the company said.

Novum Studio was founded by Anna Danyi, who graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2018 and began her career in consulting and technology. Before founding Novum Studio, she built multiple consumer applications and exited through an acquisition. In 2025, Forbes China recognized her among the Top 100 most influential global Chinese figures in AI digital products area.

“We spent years understanding how millions of users communicate online,” Anna Danyi said. “In the AI era, communication itself is becoming intelligent. We believe the next generation of platforms will not only connect people — they will understand workflows, collaboration and organizational behavior.”

From Consumer Social to Enterprise AI

Modern organizations face growing challenges as critical knowledge, decisions and workflows become fragmented across chats, meetings and disconnected tools, the company said. Ahoy Project addresses this as a conversation-driven, AI-native collaboration layer: it captures context from day-to-day communication to build a searchable enterprise knowledge base and support workflow coordination.

Core capabilities include conversation-based knowledge organization, AI-assisted collaboration and workflow support integrated directly into team communication. Because the platform sits at the layer where work is discussed and decided, it can serve as the foundation for a broader AI-native operating model – with Novum Studio designing and delivering the surrounding transformation solution for each enterprise client.

Ahoy (Popeye AI) turns everyday team conversations into a searchable enterprise knowledge base.

A New Direction for Social Technology

Novum Studio said its expansion reflects a broader shift across the technology industry. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram defined how content was distributed and consumed in the mobile social era; as AI becomes embedded in digital products, the company believes the next stage will center less on feeds and more on intelligent systems that understand communication and coordination.

“We are no longer just building products where people post content,” Anna Danyi said. “We are building systems that understand how humans communicate and operate together.”
 

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Energy

Venezuela Energy Week to Host Houston Industry Showcase, Unlocking United States (U.S.) Commercial Engagement Ahead of October Summit

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3 days ago

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July 24, 2026

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African Energy Chamber

Ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2026, U.S. exploration companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers and investors are invited to explore commercial opportunities across Venezuela’s upstream sector at the Houston Industry Showcase next month

HOUSTON, United States of America, July 23, 2026/APO Group/ –Venezuela Energy Week will host an Industry Showcase in Houston on August 18, 2026: a targeted industry roadshow designed to engage U.S. energy stakeholders ahead of the October summit. Held at The Post Oak Hotel, the showcase will convene senior representatives from across the U.S. upstream ecosystem – including exploration and production companies, Texas-based independents, oilfield service companies, engineering and technology firms, commercial banks, private equity firms and family offices – to assess commercial pathways for participation in Venezuela’s energy sector.

 

As Venezuela looks to expand production, U.S. companies remain well positioned to contribute technical expertise, capital and operational capabilities across the upstream value chain. Chevron’s longstanding presence in the country highlights the continued importance of U.S. industry participation, while the scale of Venezuela’s resource base continues to attract interest from major international energy companies, including ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips. Opportunities extend across exploration, field development, production optimization, infrastructure rehabilitation and digital modernization as Venezuela seeks to strengthen its energy sector.

 

Demand is also expected to grow for oilfield service companies, engineering firms, technology providers and financial institutions that can support upstream investment and project execution. Companies including SLB, Halliburton and Baker Hughes have been identified as potential partners in advancing production optimization and infrastructure rehabilitation, while commercial banks, private equity firms and family offices will play an important role in financing future investment opportunities.

 

Against this backdrop, the Houston Industry Showcase will provide a structured engagement platform at a time when select international operators continue to operate under U.S. Treasury-authorized frameworks, and where policy considerations in the U.S. continue to shape engagement parameters in Venezuela’s energy sector.

 

The event will enable U.S. exploration companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers and investors to assess technical and commercial pathways across exploration, field services, project delivery and broader supply chain opportunities, while supporting early-stage dialogue between international investors and Venezuela-focused stakeholders in a structured commercial environment ahead of the October summit.

 

To register for the Houston Industry Showcase on August 18, visit www.venezuelaenergyweek.com/rsvp-houston. To 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

 

Our 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/4fM0rLr).

 

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

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Business

Africa Trade Gateway Delivers US$5.3-Million Cross-Border Transaction in First Energy Sector Trade in Southern Africa

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3 days ago

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July 24, 2026

By

Afreximbank

The transaction represents an important milestone for both the participating institu-tions and the ATG ecosystem as it marked Innbucks Microbank’s first completed transaction through the platform and the ATG’s first recorded energy-sector transac-tion in Southern Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 23, 2026/APO Group/ –A US$5.3-million cross-border fuel (gasoil) trade transaction has been successfully completed with support of the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank’s) (www.Afreximbank.com) flagship digital trade ecosystem, demonstrating the value and efficacy of the Gateway in powering African trade.

The transaction, which saw Zimbabwean fuel importer Witeva Trading source a gasoil shipment from a leading commodity trader and supplier in Switzerland, with Innbucks Microbank Ltd. participating as the local issuing financial institution and Afreximbank providing confirmation support under agreed trade finance structure, demonstrates how African businesses can leverage one connected ecosystem to identify opportunities, access finance and complete international trade more efficiently.

The ATG made it possible for the commercial opportunity to be connected to the right ecosystem participants, bringing together the buyer, supplier and participating financial institutions to support a successful execution of the transaction.

The transaction represents an important milestone for both the participating institutions and the ATG ecosystem as it marked Innbucks Microbank’s first completed transaction through the platform and the ATG’s first recorded energy-sector transaction in Southern Africa.

This transaction demonstrates the value of bringing African businesses and financial institutions together through one connected trade ecosystem

It also demonstrates how African Businesses can use a single digital ecosystem to identify commercial opportunities, connect with verified counterparties, access trade-finance support and execute cross-border transactions more efficiently.

Peter Olowononi, Director, Regional Operations, Southern Africa, at Afreximbank, said:

“This transaction demonstrates the value of bringing African businesses and financial institutions together through one connected trade ecosystem. By creating a digital ecosystem to expand access to trade finance, Afreximbank is enabling more businesses to participate easily in regional and international trade.”

Emeka Onyia, Director, Digital Business, at Afreximbank, added:

“The Africa Trade Gateway is more than a mere digital platform; it is the ecosystem that helps trade happen. We help businesses discover opportunities, connect with trusted buyers, suppliers and financial institutions, and facilitate the journey from commercial opportunity to completed transactions. Every successful deal strengthens the network, attracts new participants and creates more opportunities for African trade.”

“As more businesses, banks and trade partners join the ecosystem, every successful transaction expands the marketplace, strengthens trust across the network and increases opportunities for future trade,” Mr. Onyia added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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