September 9, 2026 at Luanda (Angola)
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Partners,
Allow me first to thank the Government of the Republic of Angola, the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, and the organisers of Angola Oil & Gas 2026 for the warm welcome extended to us here in Luanda.
It is a privilege to speak in Angola, a country that holds an important place in Africa’s energy landscape and shares a wider continental ambition: turning our natural resources into investment, jobs, industry and lasting prosperity.
Africa is not lacking in resources. We have oil, gas, strong potential and growing demand. But resources alone do not create prosperity.
What matters is our ability to turn these resources into real economic value.
This means developing our oil and gas responsibly, investing in infrastructure, refining and gas development, strengthening local industries, and creating value chains that generate jobs, skills and public revenues.
The real question is: how do we turn our resources into energy security, industrial capacity and sustainable development for our people?
Financing is central to that challenge.
Many African energy projects are viable, yet they still struggle to reach financial close because of the cost of capital, risk perceptions and infrastructure gaps.
This is why Africa must strengthen its own financial capacity.
Institutions such as the Africa Energy Bank can help mobilise African capital, support strategic projects and attract additional investment.
Our message must be clear: Africa is not only seeking capital. Africa is offering projects, partnerships and long-term opportunities.
The success of our energy sector cannot be measured only by the number of barrels produced or exported. It must also be measured by the electricity generated, the jobs created and the value retained in our economies.
Luanda is a fitting place for this conversation.
The priorities discussed at Angola Oil & Gas 2026 – upstream investment, gas development, refining, local content, financing and infrastructure – reflect Angola’s commitment to creating greater and more lasting value from its energy resources.
They also reflect a wider African ambition: to make energy a driver of industrial development and shared prosperity.
This vision is fully aligned with APPO’s ambition.
Across our continent, our goal is clear: our natural resources must support not only production and exports, but also industry, technology, employment and regional integration.
Our organization brings African petroleum-producing countries together to strengthen cooperation and turn our energy resources into shared development.
No African country should have to build its energy future alone.
Our resources may be national, but our opportunities are continental.
To investors already working in Africa, I say:
deepen your engagement,
strengthen your partnerships
and continue to build with us.
To those still assessing the opportunities, this is the time to engage.
The resources are here.
The demand is growing.
The projects are here.
And the ambition is clear.
What we must now bring together are capital, confidence and consistency.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Africa’s energy future will be built on our ability to turn resources into bankable projects, investment into development, and natural wealth into real prosperity for our people.
Africa offers resources.
It offers markets.
It offers opportunity.
And it invites partnership.
Invest with Africa.
Build with Africa.
And grow with Africa.
That is the conviction of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization, and the message I am honoured to share with you today, here in Luanda.
Thank you.
