Vaalco looks to expand
Independent’s CEO sees further opportunities for growth in Africa post-Transglobe merger
“We are definitely Africa focused… never say never, but our heartland is Africa,” George Maxwell, CEO of Houston-headquartered Vaalco, tells Petroleum Economist. The firm recently completed a merger with Calgary-based Transglobe. And Maxwell says that, when he took over as CEO in 2021 and the board gave him “a growth mandate”, the choice of partner was “actually relatively simple”. “The companies had been talking previously, but those talks were discontinued because Vaalco was looking to confirm the extension of its Etame licence in Gabon and Transglobe was working on the consolidation of its Egyptian licences,” he adds. Vaalco CEO Geor
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally






