Participants at the second virtual meeting of the African Petroleum Regulatory Forum (AFRIPERF) have reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration and sustainable growth in Africa’s petroleum sector.
The Chairman of the session, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, who is the Chief Executive of Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), emphasised the importance of unity among African nations to strengthen the continent’s petroleum industry.
He praised attendees for their engagement and highlighted AFRIPERF’s role in fostering relationships that can attract investment and stimulate economic growth.
Key priorities discussed included building sustainable capacity, harmonising regulatory frameworks for consistency and enabling effective sharing of expertise among member countries.
CEO of Ghana’s Petroleum Commission, Mr. Egbert Fabille underscored the necessity of institutionalising the forum across Africa to achieve a unified petroleum sector. Similarly, Mohammed Dukuly from Liberia’s Petroleum Regulatory Authority welcomed the initiative and urged member states to take ownership of their regulatory environments.
The meeting concluded with several action items, including the adoption of an official logo for AFRIPERF and a review of the forum’s charter, which is set to be adopted in the next meeting. Participants engaged in rich discussions on enhancing collaborative efforts among member countries, including plans for a pan-African webinar on regulatory trends and harmonised training programmes.
The resolutions from the meeting are expected to strengthen Africa’s petroleum sector, equipping it to address current and emerging challenges in the energy industry. The virtual session included representatives from various African regulators, including those from Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal and Angola.
AFRIPERF aims to enhance regional petroleum governance by fostering collaboration among member regulators. Key objectives include harmonising regulations and standards, improving regulatory capacity through training, and promoting dialogue with industry stakeholders and international organisations. The forum addresses regional challenges, facilitates knowledge sharing, encourages technology transfer and advocates for member interests on international platforms.
The forum held its inaugural meeting on 1 July2024, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
