President of Kenya to open May 23-25 meeting in Nairobi
How African countries with energy resources can harness climbing prices to spur stable, long-term economic growth and regional cooperation will be a major focus of the UNCTAD-sponsored 11th Africa Oil and Gas Trade and Finance Conference to be held from 23-25 May in Nairobi. Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki will open the meeting.
Increasing global demand for oil has drawn renewed attention to the role the African energy sector can play in regional development. The central theme of the conference will be "Interface between Hydrocarbons and Finance." Topics to be considered include methods for enhancing energy security; the potential of alternative sources such as natural gas and renewable energy; the sustainable management of energy resources; the strengthening of energy-sector cooperation among countries; downstream deregulation; technological innovation; and future prospects for refineries. Over 80 representatives of governments, oil companies, financial institutions, and energy organizations are scheduled to speak.
The annual meeting serves as a focal point for the energy industry in Africa. Each year, public-private partnerships are forged and debate is wide-ranging.
UNCTAD, along with sponsoring the conference, assists developing countries -- mainly in Africa -- in establishing effective long-term strategies for their energy sectors. The focus is on using energy to expand African development. UNCTAD provides support and capacity building activities to African nations on such matters as energy finance, oil-field services and oil price-risk management.
Following President Kibaki´s opening address on 23 May, keynote speeches will be given by Lakshmi Puri, Director of UNCTAD´s Division on International Trade in Goods and Services and Commodities (DITC); Hon. Kiraitu Murungi, Minister of Energy, Hon. Amos Kimunya, Minister of Finance of Kenya; and Hon. Wangari Maathai, Assistant Minister of Environment of Kenya and the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Lists of featured speakers and government ministers scheduled to attend the conference are attached.
The three-day meeting will be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi.
ANNEX
Ministers confirmed to attend
- Kiraitu Murungi, Minister of Energy, Kenya.
- Wangari Maathai, Assistant Minister of Environment, Kenya, and 2005 Nobel laureate.
- Amos Kimunya, Minister for Finance, Kenya.
- Atanasio Ela Ntugu, Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy, Equatorial Guinea.
- Gabriel Nguema Lima, Vice Minister, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Equatorial Guinea.
- Mohamed Boutaleb, Minister of Energy and Mines, Morocco.
- Erkki Nghimtina, Minster of Mines and Energy, Namibia.
- Dr. Awad Ahmed Eljazz, Minister of Energy and Mining, Sudan.
- Ibrahim Msabaha, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tanzania.
- Daudi Migereko, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda.
Speakers:
Oil companies and national oil companies
- Thierry Genthialon, Chief Operating Officer, Oryx Oil & Gas, Switzerland.
- Patrick Obath, Managing Director, Shell Kenya Ltd.
- Mwendia Nyaga, Acting Managing Director, National Oil Corporation of Kenya.
- Peter Grant, General Manager, Woodside Energy Ltd, Australia.
- Wu Keqiang, China National Offshore Oil Company.
- Candido Nsue Ocomo, Director General, GePetrol, Equatorial Guinea.
- Juan Antonio Ndong Ongo, Director General, Sonagas, Equatorial Guinea.
- Yona Killagane, Managing Director, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation.
- S. Sundareshan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India.
- Shok Dhar, Senior Vice President, Reliance Industries Limited, India.
Financial institutions
- Jean Louis Ekra, President, Afrexim Bank, Egypt.
- Guillaume Leenhardt, Regional Head, Energy Commodities, Export & Project Department (ECEP), BNP Paribas, France.
- Michael Jay, Global Head, Upstream & Structured Finance, Energy Group Natexis, France.
- Hartwig Schuen, Executive Director, Capital Markets & Commodity finance, West LB, Germany.
- Nazeem Noordali, Head for Sub Saharan Africa, Trade Finance & Promotion Dept., Islamic Development Bank, Saudi Arabia.
- Hassan Farah, Chief Investment Officer, African Development Bank, Tunisia.
Energy organizations
- Hussein El Haq, Executive Director, AFREC, Algeria.
- Gerald Doucet, Secretary General, World Energy Council, UK.
- Philip Niyongabo, Africa Union, Ethiopia.
Refineries
- Joel Dervain, Director General, SIR, & President of African Refiners Association, Côte d´Ivoire.
- A.L. Yar´Adua, Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemicals, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria.
- Serigne Mboup, Director General, Petrosen, Senegal.
Others
- Débo-K´mba Barandao, Coordinator, West Africa Gas Pipeline Authority, Nigeria.
- Siyanga Malumo, Director, Fieldstone Africa, South Africa.
- Jorge Montepeque, Platts Global Director, Market Assessments.
- Antoine Rostand, Global Managing Director, Schlumberger Business Consulting.
- Peter Leon, Partner, Webber Wentzen Bowens, South Africa.
- Paul Stevens, Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, University of Dundee, UK.
- Paul Sullivan, Energy and Security, Georgetown University, Washington D.C, USA.
