By Aduragbemi Omiyale
On Tuesday, November 2, 2021, stakeholders in the energy in the country will gather at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos for a strategic conference organised by the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC).
The group, in a statement, disclosed that the event would be hybrid (in-person and virtual) due to the COVID-19 restrictions put in place by the federal government to curb the virus, which has ravaged the globe.
It was stated that the theme for the programme is PIA: Energy Transition and the Future of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas. The association added that the platform would give room for industry policy drivers, players and stakeholders to examine the country’s new fiscal landscape and investment outlook.
The Chairman of NAEC, Mr Olu Philips, was quoted in the statement as saying that, “Another major objective is to escalate discussions on the recently passed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the future of the nation’s energy sector.”
He assured all stakeholders of robust and balanced discourse, as the country forges ahead in its plan towards energy transition and implementation of the PIA.
Business Post learned that the Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mr Mohammed Barkindo, would be the special honorary conference chairman, while the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, will deliver the special ministerial address, with the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari, will deliver the keynote address.
Other speakers expected at the conference include the Managing Directors of Chevron, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Seplat Energy, Waltersmith, IPPG, Oando, Axxela, Eko Electric, Ikeja Electric, Aiteo, amongst others.
NAEC is the apex body of specialised journalists covering the Nigerian energy industry and its conference has become a flagship event that yearly attracts industry stakeholders, policymakers and the interested public.
The energy sector in Nigeria is seen as largely untapped, which is why some groups have intensified efforts to draw the attention of the government to the wasting revenues.
Although Africa appears to be on the vicinities of the global energy transition driven by severer environmental regulations, the recent enactment of Nigeria’s PIA provides a new vista of opportunities for operators across the industry value chain.
Also, the federal government recently declared 2021 to 2031 as A Decade of Gas. In view of this, the conference will give both government and industry players the opportunity to explain to Nigerians and the world; the expected derivable benefits from a gas-propelled economy.
