WAIPEC unlocks Africa’s oil, gas potential at forum

The awaiting inaugural West African International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (WAIPEC) opened doors to delegates and visitors today (February 22) with a two-day first-class conference programme and exhibition, specifically developed to provide real value and insight for delegates and visitors from across the industry.

The conference programme, according to the organisers, is expected to focus on unlocking strategic value, leveraging innovation, best practices and technology to grow West Africa’s energy industry, with specific discussions on how West Africa’s oil and gas sector can remain competitive in a tough global market.

After the opening address, proceedings will begin today with a key note speech from General Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Coporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, covering ‘Collaboration and local capacity development as an enduring strategy in a low oil price environment.’

This will be followed closely with an expert panel discussion, further exploring the area, featuring, Managing Director of SEPLAT, Austin Avuru; Executive Director/GM Business Development Upstream Nigeria Commercial, Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited, Seyi Afolabi; Managing Director, First E&P Development Company Limited, Demola Adeyemi Bero; Chief Operating Officer, Upstream, NNPC, Dr . Rabiu; former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Conoil Producing Limited, Dr. Moses Ebietsuwa Omatsola and Managing Partner, Compliance Professionals Plc, Ifueko Omogui-Okaro.

Best practice and collaborative efforts will also be of paramount focus for the conference, with Dafe Stephen Sejebor, Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) highlighting the ‘Government expectations for collaboration in joint ventures’ and Bayo Ojulari, Managing Director, the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company following with a discussion on ‘Service company and operator collaboration models – drawing on experience from other oil provinces.’

Finally the role of new technology will be addressed, with a topical panel discussion featuring, Director –Technical, Addax Petroleum Development (Nigeria) Limited, Chikezie Nwosu; Corporate Strategy & Planning Manager, Nigeria LNG Limited, Dr Yakie
Ogon; Chief Executive Officer, TenOil Petroleum and Energy Services Limited, Dr. Tony Chukwueke; Associate Director – Financial Advisory Services, PwC, Nigeria, Olumide Adeosun; and Chief Executive Officer, First Hydrocarbon Limited, Femi Bajomo.

Local content development is the theme for Day Two – with Executive Secretary, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, leading with his discussions on ‘Identifying policies and factors that encourage and hinder local content development in Nigeria and the region, strategies for growing the industry.’

This will then be debated by a panel featuring, Chiedu Oba, General Manager, National Content Development, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Dr. Timi Austen-Peters, Chairman, Dorman Long Engineering, Olusoga Oduselu, General Manager, Chevron Nigeria, Tunde Adelana, Executive Director, Monitoring & Planning, NCDMB, Taofik Adegbite, Chief Executive Officer, Marine Platforms Limited, Hon. Emmanuel Ekon, Chairman House Committee on Local Content, Daere Akobo, CEO, Plant Engineering and Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, Executive Secretary, NCDMB.

The proceedings will then close with further discussion on innovation and best practices across the sector, including in the areas of upstream oil and gas development.

Speaking of the programme’s content; Bank Anthony Okoroafor, Chairman of PETAN commented: “Sessions have been designed to illustrate solutions successfully implemented in the sector to boost levels of production during an uncertain industry environment and share policy, technical and financial models for achieving national aspirations in better domestic utilization of oil and gas.”