APPO Secretary General Visits GNPC Ahead of Gas Flaring Round Table Conference
Accra, May 21 - Dr. Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Joseph Dadzie, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), in Accra ahead of a two-day round table conference on Gas Flaring and Fugitive Methane Emissions organized by the Petroleum Commission in collaboration with APPO.
During the visit, Dr. Farouk discussed the pressing issues facing Africa's energy sector in the context of the ongoing conversation about energy transition. He highlighted the initiatives undertaken by APPO and invited Mr. Dadzie to join the forum of CEOs from National Oil Companies (NOCs) within APPO member states, which aims to form a strong network to address Africa's energy challenges.
Mr. Dadzie commended APPO's dedication to a just energy transition across Africa, particularly concerning bringing the continent's energy challenges into focus within the transition context. He also praised APPO's proactive approach amid the lack of support for oil and gas operations from the West.
The discussions between the parties focused on three crucial areas: Finance, Market, and Technology. They highlighted the diminishing funding for oil and gas ventures in Africa and stressed the importance of utilizing domestic markets to prevent the resources from becoming obsolete.
In response, APPO proposed the establishment of an African Energy Bank and the creation of a Regional Centre of Excellence to foster indigenous solutions for Africa's energy challenges. APPO and GNPC also advocated for the development of cross-border oil and gas infrastructure among member nations.
Mr. Dadzie expressed Ghana's unwavering support for these initiatives and expressed hope that Ghana would be considered as the host for these institutions.
Additionally, the APPO delegation toured GNPC's Research and Data Centre (RATC), emphasizing the need for greater collaboration among NOCs in research and innovation.
The General Secretary in his closing remarks extended an invitation to Mr. Dadzie to address the upcoming roundtable conference.