Upstream Latest: what's on the table at the World Energies Summit?

At the heart of the World Energies Summit agenda are the governments with something big to say about upstream. Alongside supermajors, independents, investors and technology specialists, each delegation coming to join us in London next week brings a live licensing round, a looming FID or a new partnership to put on the table.

These are the conversations that matter and below you’ll find a round-up of the latest news from the attending governments, giving you a real taste of the breadth and depth of insight and discussion taking place next week..

With over 400 delegates in the room, only a few places remain, and time is running out. Secure yours now to hear directly from the countries listed below.

Algeria - ALNAFT launched the Algeria Bid Round 2026 in April, offering seven exploration blocks to attract foreign investment and raise output. The backdrop is ambitious: a target of around 200 bcm of annual gas production by 2030, up from roughly 137 bcm in 2025.

Angola - In June, Sonangol joined Azule Energy, Equinor and ANPG in taking FID on the $5.1 billion Greater PAJ development in Blocks 31 and 31/21. Luanda has since set out a Hydrocarbon Strategy through to 2050, backed by major projected upstream investment.

Bangladesh - Petrobangla has reopened the Bay of Bengal with 26 offshore blocks, 11 shallow and 15 deepwater, under a revised production-sharing framework, with bids due by 30 November.

Brazil - Petrobras is going global. It has signed production-sharing contracts for eight ultra-deepwater blocks in Côte d'Ivoire, as it looks to replenish reserves ahead of an expected production peak around 2035. It also announced a gas discovery at the Sandia-1 well in deepwater Colombia.

Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador is offering 16 offshore parcels, with the province putting up to $30 million towards exploration wells. Momentum follows the Bay du Nord deal, with sanction targeted for 2027 and first oil in 2031, whilst in Nova Scotia, the regulator approved Inceptio Oil and Gas's bids on two parcels.

Egypt - A 14-block round is open through the Egypt Upstream Gateway, with EGAS offering eight areas in the Mediterranean, Nile Delta and North Sinai and EGPC six more in the Gulf of Suez, Sinai and Western Desert. EGPC bids close on 11 November.

Ecuador - Quito is opening its oil sector to private capital on a scale not seen in years. The centrepiece is Sacha, Ecuador's most productive field, averaging about 70,800 bpd in the first five months of 2026, roughly a fifth of national output.

Gabon – WES Diamond Sponsor: Libreville has rewritten the rulebook to win back the majors. The 2019 Hydrocarbons Code is being split into two standalone texts, an Oil Code and a dedicated Gas Code. The headline changes are aimed squarely at the frontier. Alongside the reforms, the government’s 2026 licensing campaign covers roughly 70% of the country's available offshore acreage.

Georgia - The headline this year has been midstream with Geogrian Oil & Gas Corporation with State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) agreeing a new operating arrangement for the Georgian section of the Baku-Supsa pipeline in May, and SOCAR taking over operations from bp in June.

Grenada – WES Government Showcase Sponsor: One of the true frontiers in the room, Grenada is building interest ahead of its inaugural 2027 licensing round, covering six offshore blocks and one open acreage area.

Greece - Athens is heading into its busiest offshore spell in four decades, and the timetable is tight. Block 2 in the north-west Ionian Sea is now in its second exploration phase, with ExxonMobil becoming co-lessee in March alongside operator Energean and HELLENiQ Energy. Further south, Chevron's campaign is about to begin.

Kenya - Kenya is within touching distance of becoming a producer, and it is coming to London with new acreage to sell. At South Lokichar in Turkana, Gulf Energy took over Tullow's assets in September 2025 for $120 million, and the government has since approved a full Field Development Plan.

Kuwait - KUFPEC, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation's international upstream arm, is in expansion mode on several continents at once. The standout deal of 2026 is Brazil. KUFPEC agreed to buy a 20% stake in Shell's deepwater pre-salt Orca project in the Santos Basin. Closer to home, first gas from West Mena offshore Egypt is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. KUFPEC holds 40% alongside operator Shell

Lebanon - Lebanon's offshore ambitions are gathering fresh momentum. In January, TotalEnergies, Eni and QatarEnergy signed up for Block 8, a clear vote of confidence from three of the industry's heaviest hitters.

Libya & Tunisia - Joint Oil arrives with a deal to sell. It is seeking partners for exploration of the Joint Oil Block and development of the cross-border Zarat discovery as a unitised resource, with the round running until 30 November.

Malta – One of the Mediterranean's least-drilled jurisdictions is back on the exploration map. Chevron signed an exploration study licence in April for Areas 1, 4, 5 and 7, south of the islands. There is room for more players too. Area 2, along with blocks in Areas 3 and 4 outside Chevron's licence, remains open for application on a permanent basis, with licences available through an open-door process as well as bid rounds.

Mauritania - GTA is delivering. Output reached nameplate capacity of 2.7 mtpa in December, and Kosmos expects to nearly double LNG exports in 2026. The bigger prize remains BirAllah, which SMH estimates at around 80 tcf.

Namibia - TotalEnergies completed its takeover of Mopane operatorship earlier this month, consolidating the Orange Basin's two biggest finds. On Venus, the state expects FID in the last quarter of 2026.

Nigeria - The 2025 round awarded 37 blocks to 31 companies, and NUPRC expects to launch the 2026 round in October. The ambition is clear: 3 million bpd by 2030, increasing from 1.6-1.7 million today.

Norway - APA 2026 added 70 new blocks across the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea, with awards due in early 2027.

Sri Lanka – Following the launch of its Bid Round in August, International Investor Roadshow Opens at WES 2026. PDASL's SL2026-01 round offers four Mannar Basin blocks covering around 34,000 km², with final bids due 2 February 2027. The acreage provides explorers with an opportunity to evaluate substantial offshore positions within a basin where previous exploration has resulted in gas and condensate discoveries and demonstrated the presence of a working petroleum system.

Timor-Leste – The long-running push to develop Greater Sunrise is moving closer to the finish line. Timor-Leste, Australia and the Sunrise Joint Venture have been negotiating the legal and fiscal framework for the project, including a new production sharing contract. A 2026 licensing round is being promoted with updated fiscal terms, and companies are already showing early interest in the country's geological potential.

The Gambia - The Gambia has landed a supermajor. In June, the government signed a Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Licence Agreement with Eni for offshore Block A1, its most significant upstream commitment since bp's departure and first upstream licence signed under the Petroleum Commission's oversight.

Uruguay - Uruguay has become one of the Atlantic margin's most talked-about frontiers, and the drill bit is coming. Interest rests on the geological parallels with the conjugate margins off Namibia and South Africa. Every one of the country's seven offshore blocks is now awarded, with operators advancing seismic and planning wells.

WES 2026 - All the Information You Need

We're on the serious countdown, with just days before doors open on the 4th World Energies Summit. Now is the time to make that decision to secure one of the few remaining delegate places. The information below is all you need:

Industry Leading Panels. To find out who you’ll hear from - and these are the biggest names in global upstream activity - request the latest Agenda

This is THE room to be in for upstream insight and exclusive networking. To find out who you’ll meet, request a copy of the Attendee List today.

Join Us. To find out about our limited availability Delegate packages and how to secure yours before next week head here.

Reflections from The Global Upstream Leaders Forum Rio 2026: long live the pre-salt - and on to new frontiers

The calibre of agenda for next week’s World Energies Summit reflects Frontier’s truly global reach and earlier this month, we planted our flag firmly in Latin America, hosting our inaugural Global Upstream Leaders Forum in the region.

Under the strategic theme “Latin America’s Deepwater Advantage: Scaling a New Era of Supply” our speakers and panellists provided candid, in-depth insight and opinion. Read more about it in this article by Frontier Founder & CEO (and Forum moderator), Gayle Meikle .

Frontier Upstream Insights | Next Session: 7 October 2026

"Sanctions, Conflicts & Energy Security: How Geopolitics is Redrawing the Global Upstream Map"

Once again, Frontier Upstream Insights asks the questions the industry needs answered. As energy security climbs every government's agenda, we bring operators, analysts and strategists together to make sense of it.

Featuring:

Robin Mills , CEO, Qamar Energy
Ben Cahill – Non Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Maria Shagina , Senior Fellow, Geoeconomics Programme, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Raad Alkadiri , Managing Partner, 3TEN32 Associates
Gayle Meikle , Founder & CEO, Frontier | The Premier Platform for Upstream Leaders

Hosted by Daniel Davidson, who'll be taking questions from the live audience.

Register to attend this LinkedIn Live session.

On the Frontier - Where You’ll Find Us

World Energies Summit – 29th - 30th September 2026 - London

The world's premier global upstream conference returns, convening C-suite leaders, regulators and investors for two days of deal-making and strategy. If your basin, your capital or your business-development plan for 2027 needs the right rooms and the right conversations, this is where they happen.

Global Upstream Leaders’ Forum – 19th November 2026 - Houston

“The Future of Upstream: Redefining Leadership in a Transforming Energy World”. The original Frontier Leaders Forum. We return for our renowned Houston gathering, to explore how leadership, investment and collaboration are redefining the upstream sector. Members and invited guests only.

Africa Energies Summit – 11th – 13th May 2027 – London

The anchor upstream oil and gas event for the continent, we bring together senior decision-makers from governments, national oil companies, international operators, independents, financiers and service providers for a high-level forum built around strategic dialogue and deal-making. Our unique, relationship-driven format focuses on curated roundtables, closed-door briefings and C-level panels.

World Energies Summit - 12th – 13th October 2027, London

The world's premier global upstream conference returns, convening C-suite leaders, regulators and investors for two days of deal-making and strategy. If your basin, your capital or your business-development plan for 2028 needs the right rooms and the right conversations, this is where they happen.

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Welcome to the September Edition of The Surge