AEW 2026 - Africa’s Biggest Energy Marketplace - Connects 120+ Blocks to Investors

African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 demonstrated why it has become Africa’s biggest energy marketplace, with governments leveraging the Cape Town platform to market exploration acreage, launch licensing rounds and engage international operators on new upstream investment opportunities. From frontier offshore prospects to established producing basins, five African markets – Liberia, Algeria, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea and Angola – presented more than 120 available exploration blocks alongside new licensing frameworks and investment incentives, translating the continent's resource potential into tangible commercial opportunities.

Liberia Opens New Offshore Frontier

Liberia's launched its 2026 Offshore Direct Negotiation Licensing Round on October 14 in partnership with Energy Capital & Power. The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) used AEW to formally open 15 offshore blocks across the Liberia and Harper basins, supported by more than 80,000 km of seismic data.

The round offers international operators an opportunity to enter an emerging deepwater exploration market, with letters of intent due by April 15, 2027. Speaking at the launch, LPRA Director General Marilyn T. Logan emphasized the country's exploration potential, declaring: “Our petroleum system works.”

Algeria Targets Investment Across Established Basins

Algeria used AEW to promote seven onshore exploration perimeters spanning approximately 49,000 km² across the Illizi, Berkine, Oued Mya, Amguid and Benoud basins. The acreage offers investors access to an established hydrocarbon market with substantial exploration potential. The National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT) confirmed that virtual data rooms remain open to qualified companies until November 30, 2026, with bids due January 25, 2027.

“Only 44% of this domain is under coverage, whether through prospection, research or exploitation,” said Idri Mohand Laid, Director of the Hydrocarbon Mining Domain Promotion and Valorization Division at ALNAFT.

Senegal Markets 104 Blocks to New Investors

Senegal presented one of the continent's largest available acreage portfolios, with 104 blocks open to prospective investors following the reorganization of its upstream acreage into 113 blocks in March 2026. Minister of Energy and Petroleum El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf confirmed at AEW that four blocks are currently under contract, while five have been allocated to Eni for studies. The remaining acreage offers opportunities for companies seeking to establish or expand their presence in Senegal's upstream sector.

Minister Diouf encouraged investors to evaluate the country's technical data and submit proposals backed by the financial and operational capacity to deliver exploration programs. “Capital must earn a return. Senegal must gain a stronger economy. The partnership we seek must serve both purposes,” he said.

Equatorial Guinea Advances Direct Negotiations

Equatorial Guinea showcased a flexible investment framework designed to attract operators without requiring them to wait for formal licensing rounds. Minister of Hydrocarbons, Mines and Electricity Antonio Oburu Ondo highlighted opportunities across shallow-water Blocks 12, 19 and S, offshore Blocks 8 and 4, and ultra-deepwater prospects.

National oil company GEPetrol is also seeking a partner to redevelop Block B, presenting an opportunity for companies with experience in mature-field redevelopment and production optimization. The country's new hydrocarbons law provides multiple contractual options, including production sharing contracts, reconnaissance licenses, concessions and risk service contracts. Progressive royalties and differentiated state participation based on resource type and water depth are intended to improve the competitiveness of available projects.

“Our open-door policy means investors can engage without waiting for the next licensing round,” Minister Oburu Ondo told delegates.

Angola Shifts Toward Permanently Available Acreage

Angola outlined a new approach to upstream licensing at AEW, with the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) planning to replace scheduled bid rounds with a system of permanently available acreage. The proposed model will allow companies to apply for exploration blocks without waiting for periodic licensing rounds, creating a more continuous route for investors to enter the country's upstream sector.

Hélder Iombo, Director of Negotiations at ANPG, reported that Angola awarded 75 concessions under its 2019-2025 licensing strategy and reduced bid round timelines from 18 months to six. For international operators, the shift toward permanently available acreage could improve investment planning and shorten the time between identifying opportunities and securing exploration rights.

AEW Converts Exploration Potential into Commercial Opportunities

The licensing opportunities presented at AEW 2026 reflect the increasingly commercial role of the event in Africa's upstream sector. Governments are no longer using the platform solely to outline exploration ambitions; they are bringing defined acreage portfolios, investment terms, technical data and licensing timelines directly to prospective investors.