Category: Africa

Source: APO

Africa’s energy transition is entering a more demanding phase. Adding new generation capacity remains essential, but the continent must also confront the transmission constraints, financing gaps and policy trade-offs that determine whether electricity can reach the businesses, communities and industries that need it.

Across many African markets, renewable energy projects are progressing faster than the infrastructure required to connect them. Ageing networks, limited transmission capacity and slow grid expansion are restricting investment, delaying projects and increasing the risk that available generation cannot be fully used.

Closing this gap will require financing structures that can attract institutional and private capital while managing the risks associated with long development timelines, regulated revenues and financially constrained utilities. Public-private partnerships, blended finance, guarantees and independent transmission models could play a greater role, provided they are supported by credible regulation, bankable project pipelines and clear procurement frameworks.

Building an energy mix that can withstand pressure

Transmission investment forms only part of the challenge. African governments must also determine how to meet growing electricity demand while strengthening energy security, managing affordability and responding to climate commitments.

There is no single generation formula that can be applied across the continent. Each market must consider its natural resources, existing infrastructure, industrial requirements and ability to finance new capacity.

Renewables will continue to expand, supported by storage and stronger regional power trading. At the same time, policymakers must address the role of dispatchable and baseload technologies in maintaining system reliability. The real test will be whether countries can build diversified energy systems that remain resilient during periods of peak demand, climate disruption and fuel supply volatility.

These questions will be explored through two upcoming webinars:

Scaling Transmission Infrastructure: Innovative Financing Models for Emerging Markets

Explore the financing and delivery models that could accelerate transmission development in emerging markets.
Webinar date: 12 August 2026
Time: 2pm SAST

Register for the transmission infrastructure webinar: https://apo-opa.co/4w0my5N

Balancing the Scales: Climate Change, Energy Security and Africa’s Optimal Energy Mix

Join the discussion on grid constraints, baseload requirements and the generation choices shaping Africa’s energy future.
Webinar date: 26 August 2026
Time: 2pm SAST

Register for the energy mix webinar: https://apo-opa.co/4w0myCP

Continuing the conversation at Enlit Africa 2027

Transmission expansion, infrastructure finance, energy security and Africa’s evolving generation mix will be examined in greater depth at Enlit Africa 2027, taking place from 11 to 13 May 2027 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa.

Created by VUKA Group, the event will bring together utilities, governments, regulators, financiers, developers, technology providers and large energy users to address the policy, investment and implementation decisions shaping Africa’s power, energy and water sectors.

For more information, pre-registration, and the 2026 post event report, visit the event website: https://apo-opa.co/4bgcgHk. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

About Enlit Africa:
Enlit Africa convenes stakeholders across the power sector value chain to address the commercial and operational realities of delivery, bringing together leaders across finance, utilities, government, industry and technology to accelerate bankable investment, system readiness and measurable outcomes. www.Enlit-Africa.com

About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group connects people and organisations across Africa’s energy, mining, mobility, green economy, and retail sectors through events, content, and strategic networking. Venture partners to The Global Trust Project and leaders of NPO Go Green Africa. www.WeAreVuka.com

Source: APO

Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (ZERA) CEO Edington Tapera Mazambani, Gabon Oil Company (GOC) CEO Dr. Marcellin Simba Ngabi and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH) Chairman and CEO Rudêncio de Rodolfo Novais Morais will speak at African Energy Week 2026, bringing perspectives from three institutions at the center of Africa’s evolving energy landscape. Representing regulation, state participation and natural resource development, the executives will share insights into the policies, investments and partnerships shaping the next phase of energy growth across southern and Central Africa.

Their participation comes as African governments pursue market reforms, strengthen national energy companies and expand private investment to improve energy security and accelerate resource development. AEW 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from October 12–16 – will provide a platform to examine how regulatory modernization, state-led investment and international partnerships are driving new opportunities across the continent’s electricity, oil and gas sectors.

Mazambani joins AEW 2026 as Zimbabwe advances one of its most significant energy market reforms in decades. The regulator recently shifted away from unsolicited project proposals in favour of structured competitive bidding, improving transparency while creating clearer pathways for private investment. At the same time, ZERA continues expanding the country’s renewable energy pipeline, issuing new generation licenses that have added hundreds of megawatts of planned capacity, predominantly through utility-scale solar projects.

The authority has also launched initiatives to modernize the national grid, strengthen energy efficiency standards and prepare for wider deployment of distributed generation through future net-metering frameworks. Recent enforcement measures to ensure lower fuel prices are expected to reduce transport costs and improve affordability for consumers.

Meanwhile, Ngabi brings insights from one of Africa’s fastest-growing national oil companies as GOC expands from an equity partner into an integrated upstream operator. Since taking office, he has overseen a strategy centered on increasing state participation in Gabon’s petroleum sector through acquisitions, operatorship and domestic capability building. The company’s $300 million acquisition of Tullow Oil’s Gabon portfolio significantly expanded its production base and reserves while positioning GOC as a more influential operator across the country’s mature producing assets.

The acquisition of Société de Maintenance Pétrolière Afrique has brought drilling and well intervention expertise in-house, while new offshore production sharing contracts have expanded GOC’s operated acreage. These developments coincide with Gabon’s broader efforts to revive exploration activity, open new offshore licensing opportunities and modernizing refining infrastructure.

A geologist by training with decades of experience inside ENH, Morais has been tasked with maintaining technical continuity while advancing the commercialization of Mozambique’s vast offshore natural gas resources. His appointment comes as Mozambique seeks to accelerate financing and implementation of major Rovuma Basin LNG projects that are expected to transform the country’s economy over the coming decade.

Beyond LNG development, ENH is expanding its role across Mozambique’s broader energy value chain. Under Morais’ leadership, the company is supporting government efforts to increase domestic value addition by strengthening logistics infrastructure, pipeline networks and downstream facilities that can support long-term industrialization. The strategy reflects Mozambique’s growing emphasis on ensuring natural gas development delivers wider economic benefits through local content, industrial growth and improved energy access.

“Across Africa, governments are strengthening regulatory institutions, expanding the role of national energy companies and creating new investment frameworks to unlock long-term energy development,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “The participation of ZERA, Gabon Oil Company and ENH at AEW 2026 reflects the important role these institutions play in shaping competitive energy markets, attracting investment and ensuring Africa’s natural resources drive sustainable economic growth.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

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Venezuela’s gas sector is beginning to attract renewed attention as the country moves to create new commercial pathways for a resource base that has historically remained underdeveloped. While oil has dominated Venezuela’s energy industry for decades, recent LPG export milestones and renewed progress on offshore gas projects are highlighting the potential for gas to become a larger component of the country’s future energy strategy.

In January 2026, Venezuela signed its first dedicated LPG export agreement, establishing a new route to monetize gas products after years in which domestic production was primarily directed toward internal consumption. The agreement was followed by the departure of Venezuela’s first LPG export cargo to the United States in February and, shortly afterwards, the launch of the country’s first road shipments of LPG to Colombia.

While these volumes represent an early stage of Venezuela’s broader gas ambitions, they demonstrate progress in developing commercial routes beyond the domestic market. For investors, establishing export channels is a critical step toward creating the infrastructure, partnerships and market access required to unlock larger-scale gas opportunities.

The wider opportunity extends far beyond LPG. Venezuela holds one of Latin America’s largest natural gas resource bases, with potential spanning offshore developments, domestic industrial demand and regional energy supply. Existing production from the offshore Perla field through the Cardón IV project, operated by Eni and partners, is being positioned as part of Venezuela’s broader gas export strategy, with Eni and Venezuela exploring pathways to expand the value of the resource, including potential LNG exports and greater regional gas supply.

Another key pillar of Venezuela’s gas strategy is the Dragon field, where Shell is advancing plans to develop offshore gas resources for export to Trinidad and Tobago, potentially supplying feedstock to the country’s Atlantic LNG infrastructure while creating a pathway for Venezuela to monetize its offshore gas reserves.

These developments reflect a broader shift in Venezuela’s energy strategy: moving from managing domestic gas supply challenges toward building the commercial structures needed to participate in regional and international gas markets. That transition will require investment across offshore infrastructure, processing capacity, transportation networks and financing models capable of supporting large-scale projects.

These themes will take center stage at the Venezuela Energy Week London Industry Showcase on July 30, where policymakers, investors, operators and technical experts will examine the regulatory reforms, commercial frameworks and investment models shaping Venezuela’s next energy cycle. The event will provide a platform for UK, European and international companies to engage directly with stakeholders on opportunities spanning offshore gas development, upstream projects, export infrastructure and energy services.

Venezuela’s gas industry remains at an early stage of expansion, with significant requirements around infrastructure, investment and long-term market access. However, the emergence of LPG exports alongside renewed momentum around projects such as Cardón IV and Dragon suggests that gas is becoming a more prominent element of the country’s strategy to attract capital and strengthen its position in regional energy markets.

For a country with one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon resource bases, the next phase will depend on whether these early commercial milestones can translate into sustained investment across the wider gas value chain. LPG may represent the first step, but the broader opportunity lies in developing the infrastructure, partnerships and commercial frameworks required to bring Venezuela’s gas resources fully into the market.

To register for the London Industry Showcase on July 30, visit https://apo-opa.co/3TsPQfN. 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

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/3TKcLDj).

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

Source: APO

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Africa’s emerging gas producers are increasingly looking beyond export markets to unlock the full value of their resources. While LNG projects remain central to attracting international investment and generating foreign exchange, governments across the continent are placing greater emphasis on using natural gas to support domestic power generation, industrial development and regional energy security.

This shift is becoming increasingly visible across the Atlantic gas corridor, where new offshore discoveries in Mauritania and Senegal are being developed around a dual-market strategy: supplying international LNG buyers while creating domestic gas infrastructure to support economic growth. The approach reflects a broader challenge facing African producers – ensuring that natural resources translate into affordable electricity, industrial capacity and long-term economic benefits.

“Africa’s gas resources must serve African development first and foremost,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The next generation of gas projects must be built around models that attract international investment while also delivering reliable power, industrial growth and energy security for communities across the continent. Creating bankable domestic gas markets will be critical to unlocking Africa’s full energy potential.”

Mauritania is emerging as an early example of this export-plus-domestic model. The country’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project with Senegal began producing gas in late 2024, marking the arrival of the region’s first major LNG development. While LNG exports remain a core component of the project, both countries have emphasized the importance of leveraging offshore gas resources to support domestic energy needs.

Mauritania is now advancing one of its most significant domestic gas infrastructure projects through the N’Diago gas-to-power development. In June 2026, the government approved contracts with ACWA Power for the $669 million, 230 MW gas-fired power project, which is expected to help establish the country’s first gas pipeline network and provide a new foundation for domestic gas utilization. The project is designed to convert offshore gas resources into electricity, supporting industrial activity and reducing reliance on more expensive fuel imports.

Senegal is pursuing a similar strategy through its emerging gas sector. The Yakaar-Teranga development, operated by Senegal’s national oil company Petrosen following its acquisition of the remaining interest in the license, is being positioned primarily around domestic gas supply. The project is expected to provide gas for power generation and industrial users, with early development plans targeting approximately 300 million cubic feet per day of production.

The approach demonstrates how African gas developments are evolving beyond traditional LNG export models. Rather than viewing domestic consumption and exports as competing priorities, governments are increasingly seeking integrated projects that combine international revenue generation with local economic development.

However, building these markets requires significant investment beyond upstream production. Pipeline networks, gas processing facilities, power plants and transmission infrastructure will all be required to convert offshore resources into reliable electricity supply. For investors, the opportunity extends across the entire gas value chain, from exploration and production to midstream infrastructure and power generation.

“These trends will be explored at Power Africa Today during African Energy Week 2026, where policymakers, utilities, investors and energy companies will examine how Africa can accelerate gas-to-power development and build commercially sustainable energy systems. Discussions will focus on the role of natural gas in expanding electricity access, supporting industrialization and creating new investment opportunities across emerging African markets,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

As more African countries advance gas developments, the success of projects such as N’Diago, GTA and Yakaar-Teranga could provide a blueprint for how resource-rich nations balance export ambitions with domestic energy priorities. The next phase of Africa’s gas industry will depend not only on how much gas is produced, but how effectively it is connected to economies, businesses and communities that need reliable power.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

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As Venezuela advances efforts to increase production, attract investment and maximize the value of its hydrocarbon resources, advanced subsurface technologies will play an increasingly important role in improving asset understanding and supporting capital allocation. Against this backdrop, Mexican energy technology company KAS Energy will participate as Technical Workshop Sponsor at Venezuela Energy Week 2026, highlighting digital and geoscience solutions designed to support exploration, reservoir evaluation and field optimization.

KAS Energy specializes in integrated subsurface solutions for the oil and gas industry, combining seismic interpretation, artificial intelligence, well data analysis, reservoir characterization, static and dynamic modelling, well design and production optimization. Backed by more than 10 years of industry experience and a multidisciplinary team of over 68 geoscience and engineering professionals, the company helps operators transform technical data into actionable insights for upstream decision-making.

The company has participated in more than 120 onshore and offshore projects across Mexico and Latin America, processing and interpreting more than 20,000 km² of 3D seismic data. Its experience includes semi-automated seismic interpretation, geomechanical modelling, reservoir studies and drilling support, including well design, directional drilling and real-time drilling monitoring for 39 wells.

These capabilities align closely with Venezuela’s current upstream priorities, where operators are focused on improving recovery from mature assets, evaluating development opportunities and optimizing investment across complex reservoirs. Technologies that enhance seismic interpretation, reservoir modelling and drilling performance can help reduce risk, improve operational efficiency and support more effective field development strategies.

With one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon resource bases and renewed interest from international operators and investors, Venezuela Energy Week 2026 – taking place from October 26-29 in Caracas – will bring together government representatives, PDVSA, operators, service companies, technology providers and investors to examine the partnerships and solutions shaping the country’s energy future.

As Technical Workshop Sponsor, KAS Energy will contribute expertise on subsurface evaluation, seismic interpretation, reservoir characterization and digital workflows, demonstrating how advanced technical solutions can support smarter exploration and development decisions.

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

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/4yP19iA).