By Ayobami Adedinni
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu together with the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), Maikanti Baru are expected to lead other speakers at the 2018 Sub-Sahara Africa Upstream Oil & Gas Summit and Exhibition in April.
The summit which is themed, “Gearing up for Growth: Sub Sahara Oil, Gas and Power Oil Chain’’, is expected to attract many key industry players from across Africa and beyond.
Speaking during a press conference in Lagos to announce the programme, the Chief Executive Officer of the Sub-Saharan African Oil and Gas Summit and Exhibition, Mr Dapo Ayoola, said the exhibition will provide a veritable opportunity for established oil and gas companies, government agencies, service providers, equipment manufacturers and new entries to interact and showcase their possibilities.
Speakers lined up for the Summit include: the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Commission, (NNPC), Maikanti Baru; Mr. Bayo Ojulari, MD, Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Company (SNEPCo); Dr. Joe Asamoah, MD, EnerWise Africa; Mr Powell Maimba, President, East Africa Petroleum Institute, Barrister Egbert Faibille Jnr., Acting C.E.O, Petroleum Commission, Ghana; Mr. Modestus Lumato, Tanzanian Petroleum Corporation; Mr. Tunde Lemo, former Deputy Governor, CBN and Malam Mele Kyari, Group GM, Crude Oil Marketing Division, NNPC.
Others are: Mr. Chimezie Emewulu, MD, Seamfix; Mrs. Oyeyemi Ladepo, Group GM, HR, NNPC; Mr. Ahmadu Sambo, Group GM, Finance, NNPC; Adewale Ladenegan, MD, Kaduna Refining & Petrochemical Company (KRPC); Mr. Paul Arinze, GM, Public & Govt. Affairs, ExxonMobile Nigeria, amongst others.
According to him, Africa is the last true oil and gas frontier with more than 4,200 oil and gas blocks identified. Almost half of these blocks are open, subject to force majeure or in the application phase.
“More that 80 per cent of the 1,300 blocks in North Africa are licensed, while in Sub-Sahara Africa, it is estimated that only about 30 per cent of 2,900 blocks are licensed.
“It is evident that many new opportunities still exist, especially for the exploration and production companies that are willing to take risks,” he said.
He further stated that they also want to inspire young ladies in the Universities and Polytechnics to see the oil and gas industry as one that is encompassing for everybody.
“So we have women in petroleum day where successful female practitioners based from HR or technical backgrounds, geoscientists, finance or petroleum engineers would come together and talk to the upcoming ones that there is an opportunity for everyone in the oil and gas.
“The Women in Petroleum Section is a lovely one and we have invited top women across the continent,” he added.
