By Ndubuisi Micheal Obineme
International Gas Union, IGU, will deliver a keynote address at the ninth edition of PETAN’s Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC), taking place from 11-13 February 2025 in Lagos – Nigeria.
SAIPEC 2025 will spotlight the region’s energy growth prospects and project opportunities across the Sub-Saharan Africa oil and gas industry, featuring more than 30 national oil companies and regulators from Africa to showcase in-country opportunities.
In a statement made known to The Energy Republic, IGU Secretary General, Mr Menelaos (Mel) Ydreos will speak about the fundamental importance of gas in all its forms, and how it is critical to human progress as well as the importance of gas for Africa at the SAIPEC 2025 opening plenary session.
In his words, IGU Secretary General, Menelaos (Mel) Ydreos said: “SAIPEC 2025 is a very important event to advance the regional, and not only, industry debate on the future of the fossil fuels in the global energy mix. Gas is fundamental to human progress and global growth, and is a feedstock to critical industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and many more. In addition, and particularly related to the stark energy poverty and scarcity across the African continent, Gas can serve as an immediately available, reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy poverty break, allowing hundreds of millions of people across the continent to have access to clean cooking, power, and clean air.
“We need to have tough conversations about the reality of the energy transition and decarbonization, as well as about meeting the current climate targets on the path to net zero: Gas is an enabler of renewable energy, having a direct role in tackling their intermittency and reliability. We need to transition, of course we do – but we need to do so justly, and orderly. Africa needs to have access to secure, affordable, reliable, and clean energy today so that it can meet its decarbonization and net-zero pledges tomorrow.”
In promoting ‘Gas’, IGU published a Manifesto to provide further analyses on the potential of natural gas, LNG, and renewable gases (including hydrogen, biomethane, synthetic gas, and e-methane) to drive the global energy transition agenda.
IGU firmly believes that the energy transition needs to be, first and foremost, a just transition – one that is fully adapted and adaptable to each country’s needs and energy consumption profile.
SAIPEC 2025 panel session will also highlight Africa’s natural gas potential and its role in global energy security, featuring leading LNG and FLNG projects, market dynamics, and strategic opportunities for investment and collaboration. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and prospects facing Africa as it seeks to enhance its position as a key global gas supplier.
Other prominent speakers confirmed for the conference include:
Wole Ogunsanya, CEO, Geoplex Limited, Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN)
Obi Uzu, Vice Chairman, PETAN, and CEO, Global Process and Pipelines Limited
Daere Akobo, Chairman, PANA Holdings
Proscovia Nabbanja, CEO, Uganda National Oil Company
Rustonlyn Suacco Dennis, President & CEO, National Oil Company of Liberia, NOCAL
Baboucarr Njie, Managing Director, Gambia National Petroleum Corporation
Amadou Hassane, E&P Director, Ministry of Petroleum, Republic of Niger
Foday Mansaray, Director General, Petroleum Directorate, Sierra Leone Charles Sangweni, Director General, PURA, United Republic of Tanzania Akeem Ariyo, Managing Director, AOS Orwell
Osayande Igiehon, CEO and Managing Director, Heirs Energies
Ufoma Immanuel, CEO, Chappal Energies Limited
Michelle Burkett, Managing Director, West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo)
Johnbosco Uche, President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE)
Yann Livulibutt Yangari, Partner, Flamboyans Services, former head of the Gabon Gas Task Force,
Julius Rone, CEO, UTM Offshore.
A full list of SAIPEC 2025 speakers can be found at – https://saipec-event.com/speakers