Prime global partners can drive the road to energy prosperity

Cross-border cooperation and partnerships can be a route to releasing energy potential and progress for developing nations. This was among the conclusions of a Ministerial Panel representing three ambitious and resource-rich countries on the second day of India Energy Week 2026.

The Resilience Stage panel, “Shifting the E&P capital equation: attracting investments and driving global partnerships” examined how to draw investment in a competitive arena, including leveraging public and private sector cooperation.  Panellists talked optimistically about their energy plans and willingness to partner to enable capital input, knowledge sharing, technology, and job creation.

The discussion revealed three countries at different stages in their hydrocarbon journey, emphasising a need for a balanced energy transition, while acknowledging the critical role of oil and gas in meeting basic energy demands.

His Excellency Dr. Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Trinidad and Tobago, revealed how his country was considered a “mature province”, with a 100-year history in oil and gas, but aimed to restore past production levels by leveraging new technologies. “We provide leadership, not just in terms of production of oil and gas, but we advance ourselves as a sort of Caribbean hemispheric leader in the sector and intend to capitalise on the advantages. While we are in some ways in a transition in terms of the economic structure of the country - over the last ten years or so we’ve sustained a decline in oil production and gas - that may change in the coming years based on projects that are ongoing.”

“We believe we will play a significant role as the energy hub of the Caribbean, and this is why we are looking for investment and partnerships with the international private sector as well to develop key projects going forward that will bring revenue and foreign exchange, but also a reasonable rate of return to the investment community.”

His Excellency July Moyo, Minister of Energy and Power Development, Republic of Zimbabwe, highlighted the economies of particularly post-colonial countries. 

“We are changing our production systems; rather than remaining being extractive, most countries are pushing for beneficiation,” he said. “And that beneficiation of mining, of agriculture, of other industries, means there is more demand that requires investment in all forms of resources.” He continued, “Oil and gas is particularly important for us, because almost all countries in southern Africa are now in oil and gas.”

“What we need is to create partnerships for extraction, for production, to make sure we can evacuate this oil and gas…and the growth is expected to be phenomenal.”

Honourable Moyo said partnership was also crucial in terms of financial and technological support, knowledge and human expertise, and he acknowledged the need for good regulatory frameworks, attractive incentives and transparency so potential partners clearly understand returns on investment.

Huge gas deposits first discovered in the 80s are now set to be extracted after an Australian company brought its technology to Zimbabwe, and local people were educated about the project’s positive implications.

Other representatives agreed community engagement was important to letting people know what was involved, the benefits of exploiting the resources, and ensuring positive local impact.

The Hon. Salome Makamba (MP), Deputy Minister of Energy, The United Republic of Tanzania, revealed her country had also discovered substantial oil and gas reserves and was engaging in public/private partnerships which went further.

“There is also a partnership between investors and the local people in terms of local content,” she said, highlighting a valuable knowledge, skills and jobs legacy after a partner company has brought investment and technology.

H.E. Moonilal said while his region’s energy landscape had changed fundamentally, his country had a rich legacy of oil and gas production, and several competitive strengths, including political stability.

“We are leveraging that legacy at this time, but we want to build strong partnerships with the international private sector and bring to the table institutional, regulatory, legal change and innovations so that we can do business, and we can do business quickly,” he said.

He estimated his country could lose $120m annually because of approval, regulatory and licensing delays which led to the creation of the Energy Accelerator Hub to liaise with international energy companies, such as ExxonMobil, back in Trinidad after 25 years.

“We are making changes in fiscal structure and the framework, so that we again can encourage the massive investment that is needed to get back oil and gas production to what it was at least ten to fifteen years ago.”