By Adedapo Adesanya
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has sued international events organizers, Hyve Group and Africa Oil Week (AOW), as well as Sankofa Events and its Director, Mr Paul Sinclair over allegations of misrepresentation, false marketing and unlawful competition – actions that the AEC believes have caused significant damage to the African energy sector.
The AEC is claiming $5 million for the damages caused by Hyve Group and Sankofa Events’ unfair industry practices, saying Hyve Group has previously demonstrated a lack of commitment to advancing Africa’s energy sector, as shown by its decision to move AOW to Dubai in 2020, sidelining key African developments and stakeholders in the process.
According to a statement, the AEC said it lost key sponsors, partners and 70 per cent or more of African ministers and national oil companies from their events.
It alleged that AOW claims to heed Africa’s interests but has fundamentally and continually contradicted this.
“Their crusade against oil and gas development is particularly harmful given that Africa has some of the largest hydrocarbon resources globally and is entering a new era of energy development. In this regard, AOW continues to overlook the severity of energy poverty in Africa, where six hundred million people on the continent do not have access to electricity,” it said in the statement seen by Business Post.
“They panicked and in trying to recover in the following years, they decided to mislead everyone by attempting to harm and derail AEC’s efforts to make African energy poverty history through maximized cooperation between African energy leaders, stakeholders and international partners,” it alleged.
“As such, the AEC will continue to seek justice for the African energy industry and all Africans fighting energy poverty and we look forward to continue serving in our capacity as the African continent’s premier representative of energy development,” it added.
The AEC added that it will continue to deliver on its promise to make energy poverty history by 2030 during this year’s edition of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy taking place from November 4-8 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Speaking on the development, Mr AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk said, “We have all heard and seen false advertisements announcing too good to be true speakers by Paul Sinclair, Hyve and Africa Oil Week, announcing speakers that didn’t confirm and making outlandish claims. If they are going to advertise speakers at a conference and publish numbers, their statements better be true.
“In this case, they made statements that were blatantly false, and we have an obligation to hold them accountable for lying for financial gain.”
“Misleading the oil and gas industry is not right at a time when we need to stick together to encourage more drilling for energy all over Africa despite stiff opposition from radical climate activists,” added Mr Ayuk.
“As the voice of the African Energy industry, we are committed to enforcing decency in the sector and getting rid of these bad actors that make the oil industry look bad. We hope Paul Sinclair, Hyve and Africa Oil Week behave properly while we await the outcome of this litigation,” he concluded.
Business Post Contributor 
Dipo Olowookere