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