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Ahead of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – scheduled for September 29–October 3, 2025 in Cape Town –  African Energy Week spoke with Eyas Alhomouz, CEO of Dubai-based global oil and gas firm Apus Energy (AE) about the company’s operations across Africa’s burgeoning energy industry.

AE drilled its first exploration well in Guinea Bissau? How has the project progressed and how does it align with your growth strategy across the continent?

Atum-1X in Guinea-Bissau’s Block 2 marked the country’s first well drilled offshore since 2007 and its first-ever deepwater well. The project - completed in September 2024 with drilling contractor Noble Corporation – proved the viability of deepwater exploration in Guinea-Bissau. The campaign targeted Albian-age prospects with estimated potential of up to 300 million barrels of recoverable resources. While we’re still progressing with post-well analysis, we see the project as the beginning of a new hydrocarbon chapter for Guinea-Bissau — one that could contribute to the country’s economic and energy transformation. The campaign aligns with our strategy of unlocking high-impact resources in overlooked or underexplored basins, while building long-term value for host countries and our stakeholders.

Does AE have any stakes in any other assets? What activities are you currently undertaking to maximize the value of these assets and your shareholders?

We operate two exploration licenses offshore Guinea-Bissau — Sinapa (Block 2) and Esperança (Blocks 4A and 5) — totaling nearly 5,000 km² with several compelling prospects across different plays. AE recently acquired an indirect 25% interest in the operator of the Amatitlan block, a high-potential onshore development project in Mexico. Spanning 230 km², the block already has 45 wells drilled and is estimated to hold up to 900 million barrels of recoverable oil resources. We are working alongside our partners to unlock this large-scale opportunity through long-term development planning.

We are also evaluating producing and near-term development assets across Africa and select North American markets. The goal is to complement our high-impact exploration portfolio with assets that offer shorter-cycle returns and stable cash flow.

What role do independents such as AE play in driving new exploration and production increase in Africa?

When independents succeed, it sends a signal that opportunity exists beyond the traditional plays — and that Africa’s upstream future is still wide open. We are helping de-risk basins, build national capacity, attract further investment and ensure projects deliver lasting benefits to communities. Our flexibility allows us to take on exploration risks in regions and plays where larger players may be more cautious. We also focus on unlocking value in mature or overlooked assets through innovative approaches. We place strong emphasis on leveraging advanced technology — from cutting-edge subsurface imaging to data analytics — to improve exploration success and operational efficiency.

AE is participating at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 as a sponsor. What value does the event add to your operations and market growth strategy?

The event is more than just a conference — it’s become a unifying platform that brings together the stakeholders shaping the future of African energy. It’s where deals are made, policies are influenced and long-term partnerships are born. For AE, the platform offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with governments, industry peers and capital providers. It’s a space where we can share our vision, highlight our progress in Guinea-Bissau and identify new opportunities that align with our strategic growth across the continent.

We want to maintain our strong position - which we have built with the strong support of our two large shareholders – as an agile, technically capable organization working to unlock Africa’s energy potential through collaboration and long-term alignment.

What key message are you going to be sharing at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025?

Our perspective is that Africa’s energy future should be guided by the continent’s own priorities — shaped by local needs, resources and development goals. It’s not only about producing more energy, but about doing so in a way that supports economic independence, long-term resilience and broad-based growth. Oil and gas remain central to this equation — powering industry, enabling infrastructure, and supporting livelihoods. At the same time, we recognize the growing need for lower-carbon solutions, greater integration of renewables and stronger ESG practices. At AE, we take that responsibility seriously. We are committed to operating transparently, partnering with communities, and advancing sustainable development through partnerships that create long-term value.