SSAOGES to focus on energy infrastructure deficiency in Sub-Sahara Africa

The maiden edition of Sub-Sahara Africa Oil, Gas and Energy Summit, (SSAOGES 2018) “scheduled to hold in Nairobi, Kenya in October this year will focus on energy infrastructure deficiency in Sub-Sahara Africa according to Oladeji Olawale, the co-convener of the summit at a news conference on the summit in Lagos adding that stakeholders in oil, gas and energy industry would congregate in the East African country to find answers to decades of lack of clear policy in the sector.

The energy summit, was being put together to build effective multi-stakeholder partnerships, particularly with private sector across Sub-Sahara Africa.

Olawale said that Kachikwu had confirmed his participation, adding that he would address experts on prospects of investing in those critical sectors. Munyes Kiyonga, Aziz Rabah who are ministers of energy for Kenya and Morocco respectively have confirmed their attendance. Other dignitaries who will grace the event include Victor Khaikov, adviser to President Putin on oil and gas matters, Fidelis Tendo from Cameroon, and Anthony Paul from Trinidad and Tobago amongst others.

Olawale said that the operators would also find direction among governments in Africa to support deployment of key infrastructures to harness its abundant energy resources. He said that stakeholders in the industry were now looking at ways to see that adequate energy supply would be produced.

The planned event will help to facilitate needed investments into the oil and gas industries and explore possibilities of the gas revolution in the region.

Olawale underscored the importance of the summit, stressing that when put the projections of the UN and IMF side by side, it showed that Africa had a lot to do to achieve economic prosperity and energy efficiency.

“With increasing population growth, increase in demand for energy becomes critical. Africa as a continent, though with enough energy reserves to serve its teeming population does not have the infrastructure to produce enough energy to meet the continents need. This scenario will only get worse if urgent steps are not taken to ensure energy efficiency,” he said.

Olawale further explained that the summit was organised around presentations, panel discussions and breakaway sessions evaluating identified themes bothering on oil and gas and energy infrastructure in Sub-Sahara Africa.

He said that it would also help to evaluate the penetration of the oil and gas industry into various parts of the economy, foster and build inter regional partnerships.

The convener said that summit would also focused on cooperation among nations in the Sub-Sahara Africa, explore and create better connections between the gas industry and other domestic sectors.

“The forum is expected to open honest conversations among stakeholders, policy makers, infrastructure development financiers and international oil companies.

“Others include national companies, power generating companies, renewable energy and power distribution companies with the goal of fashioning out efficient ways to begin to develop the needed infrastructure for the energy of the future.“