The challenges facing pipeline infrastructure in Nigeria and Africa at large will be the priority as stakeholders in the petroleum industry converge in Nigeria in the coming week.

The conference is expected to among other issues address challenges of regulations, technology and security of Asset at the 2023 Nigeria International Pipeline Technology and Security conference, organisers have said.

The event, jointly organised by Energy and Corporate Africa and Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria, will see the stakeholders discuss issues bothering on development and protection of pipeline infrastructures, vandalism, oil theft, asset integrity and final relations.

To be held in Abuja in early November, the conference will be anchored on “Bolstering Regulations, Technology and Security for Economic Growth.”

According to the organisers, the various impacts of technology on asset protection and security, existing and upcoming regulations, innovations and projects would be prioritised.

It would also weigh the energy transition trends, alternative resources, gas economy, decarbonisation and energy policies and governance. Chief Executive Officer of Energy and Corporate Africa, Sunny Oputa, stated that the conference would also discuss leeway for protecting the nation’s huge pipeline networks, developing infrastructures, ensuring asset integrity in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.

Oputa added that the conference would present an opportunity for exhibition, and trigger dialogue and insight into the state of Nigeria’s pipeline industry as it pertains to the oil and gas industry.

“Nigeria International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference 2023 will draw experts and industry captains from Nigeria, Africa, and the International Community to present papers, share opinions on the panel sessions, and proffer solutions,” Oputa said. According to him, some of the confirmed speakers for the conference include the Commission CEO, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, Chairman Adhoc Committee on Oil Theft, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum; Chairman/GCEO, Oilserv Group, Emeka Okwuosa; Country President, National Oil Company of Liberia, Ajibola Akindele; Chairman, Alpha Energy & Electric, Ike Nwaonwu; Chairman PCL Energy/Former GED, Gas & Power, NNPC, Yusuf Usman and others.