The African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) will, next month, converge over key industry issues and financing solutions for sustainable infrastructure projects on the continent, especially in the oil and gas downstream segment.
The event, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, is coming on the backdrop of the push for energy security for Africa amidst dwindling financial options for fossil fuel due to net-zero concerns.
President of ARDA and Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) of Ghana, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, stressed the critical role that the African downstream sector would play in meeting the continent’s future energy requirements and lauded the massive Dangote refinery in Nigeria and Sentuo Refinery in Ghana.
“Africa’s significant future energy demands will require major investments across the downstream value chain to deliver cleaner fuels and value-added petroleum products to our growing population. Projects spanning infrastructure upgrades and logistics efficiency improvements must be pursued alongside cleaner fuel and vehicle initiatives,” he said.
Abdul-Hamid said ARDA is ready to collaborate with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), African Petroleum Producing Organisation (APPO), African Union Commission (AUC) and other stakeholders to pursue a robust, intra-African oil and gas industry supported by innovative financing solution platform like the African Energy Bank that is due to take off later this year.
Executive Secretary of ARDA, Anibor Kragha, said ARDA would continue to promote a targeted, unique African Downstream Energy Transition Plan supported by innovative financing solutions which would be showcased during the first-ever ARDA Investment Forum.
Kragha said sessions of the conference would discuss pan-African challenges and opportunities regarding the post-COP 28 to ensure a coordinated, robust intra-African oil and gas industry alongside implementation of energy transition aspirations.
