APPO to Pursue Partnerships with Technological Advanced Countries

By Ajong Mbapndah L

The African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) has announced  that  it will pursue partnerships with like-minded parties to achieve its objectives. Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, the Secretary-General of APPO made the announcement at a press conference during the ongoing 24th World Petroleum Congress in Calgary, Canada.

For example, he identified Canada as one of the places where APPO may obtain technological assistance.

In response to the finance issues confronting Africa's oil and gas sector, Dr. Ibrahim stated that APPO and Afreximbank had advanced in their plans to establish the Africa Energy Bank.

The Bank will fill the void left by Western financiers of the sector's decision to stop supporting the industry, particularly in Africa.

“The bank shall be open to all investors who share our vision that Africa shall need to use all forms of available energy for the fore-seeable future in order to eliminate the huge poverty on the continent,” said Dr. Ibrahim.

To address the problem of technology and expertise, each member nation will build institutions for educating oil and gas technicians and middle-level professionals.

He stated that regional centres of excellence will be formed inside the business for the highly skilled industries.

“A team from the Secretariat undertook an assessment tour of oil and gas research, development, innovation and training institutions in APPO Member countries, with a view to establishing the professional level of these institutions.”

“We were pleasantly surprised at the level of advancement of many of the institutions visited, in terms of their training programs, facilities and equipment as well as faculties,” he added.

He further noted that APPO is now working on a roadmap for African integration by establishing cross-border energy infrastructure.

Sadly, he stated that most of Africa's energy infrastructure was built to suit extra-African interests, with pipelines running from the fields to seaports for export.

In order to improve energy access, Dr. Ibrahim suggested that these pipes be routed from places of abundance to areas of need within Africa.

He also urged for the development of purposeful policies that would allow everyone on the continent access to energy to break the poverty cycle.

"Give the people energy not just to light their homes but to do cottage industries and you will be shocked at the quantum leap in the national Gross Domestic Products," said Dr. Ibrahim.