By Ndubuisi Micheal Obineme
The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), promises to deepen collaboration between the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) member countries alongside the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), and working closely with the event organiser to develop a stronger platform for SAIPEC subsequent edition.
The PETAN Chairman, Mr Nicolas Odinuwe, disclosed this while speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent at the sideline of the 5th edition of the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference held as a hybrid event this year.
He noted that Sub-Saharan Africa has about 62.6 billion barrels of proven crude reserves with an estimated 221.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, which has positioned the region to be the last energy frontier and global hub.
According to him, PETAN created SAIPEC as an awareness informative platform for the Sub-Saharan Africa oil and gas industry with a strong focus on collaboration within the African market.
“SAIPEC is one of those good catalysts to fostering collaboration and deepening local content in the African continent.
“Through this partnership with SAIPEC, we intend to develop stronger collaboration between SAIPEC member countries alongside the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) as well as increasing regional investment.
“The value chain in the African energy industry if properly harnessed will transform the economies in the continent and make us stop looking out for donor agencies,” he added.
Building upon the success of the 2021 edition, the sixth edition of SAIPEC will be held as a physical event on 23 – 25 February 2022 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos – Nigeria.
Hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Sub Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) stands as not only the largest event in the centre of the region’s oil and gas hub but also the only truly industry-led event, held in partnership with the country’s petroleum sector.
PETAN is an association of leading Nigeria’s indigenous technical service providers in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the oil industry.
PETAN has made significant progress in many areas in the Nigerian oil and gas industry including human capital development, reduction for in-country capital flight, and other key areas.
One of its major contributions is the collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to pass the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD Act) into law in 2010. The NOGIDCT Act has become a legislative model for most developing and emerging economies in Sub-Saharan Africa.