APPA to collaborate on developing energy sector in West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Petroleum Producers’ Association (APPA) have agreed to cooperate and collaborate to further develop the energy sector in the region. This followed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy and related activities between the two organizations at the 33 Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of APPA which held in Abuja recently.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission by the Commissioner of Energy and Mines, Dr. Morlaye Bangoura and the President of APPA, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu on behalf his association.

The President of APPA, who is also the Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, reiterated the commitment of APPA towards the continuous development of the hydrocarbon sector in Africa for the benefit of its teeming population. He added that the Continent must work towards turning the fortunes of the oil and gas industry, so that people across the continent will not see the sector as a curse instead of blessing that it is.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, who was represented by the Commissioner for Energy and Mines, Dr. Morlaye Bangoura expressed enthusiasm over the cooperation and collaboration, which he believed will bring about the much needed development in the energy sector, especially as it concerns hydrocarbons.

He listed some of the achievements of ECOWAS in energy sector which includes the creation of the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) for electrical interconnection between Member States and the development of means of production. Others are the promotion and popularization of renewable energy and energy efficiency through the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Centre (ECREEE) and the formation of regional regulatory agency for the regulation of electricity market through ERERA as well as the West African gas pipeline construction to supply natural gas to Benin, Togo and Ghana from Nigeria for the production of electricity.

The Commissioner added that despite these achievements there remain many challenges in the energy sector in our region, particularly the hydrocarbons subsector. He said securing hydrocarbon supplies of ECOWAS Member States, development of oil infrastructure and gas market, harmonization of specifications and regulations as well as the modernization of crude oil valuation tools are still major concerns.

As part of the solutions to these challenges, ECOWAS identified and acknowledged the experience and expertise of APPA, whose credentials in promoting joint initiatives and projects in policy and management strategies in all areas of the oil industry is tested and trusted. This expertise and experience will benefit ECOWAS in the thinking and implementation of solutions tailored to address challenges of hydrocarbon energy in the region.

In this regard, the Commission is looking forward to the cooperation initiated through the MoU between the two institutions which has at its core the development of exploration and oil production, as well as recovery of oil resources and the generation of electrical energy. Others are the development of oil infrastructure and gas and related industries, while securing hydrocarbon supplies. It also includes building human resource capacity in the energy sector and hydrocarbons, as well as the promotion of Local Content in the energy sector and hydrocarbons.

The partnership will also develop common strategies for securing supplies of energy including hydrocarbons; promote efficient supply infrastructure development policies, transport and distribution of hydrocarbons through regional integration projects. It will also work towards harmonization of contractual frameworks, policies, regulation and tax based on the implementation of joint activities, mutual technical assistance, information exchange, training and participation in specific meetings.