African Petroleum Regulators Forum Unveils ‘Abuja Declaration’
Regulators in the African oil and gas industry under the aegis of the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) have introduced a six-point charter that aims at promoting investment and economic development in the petroleum sector across Africa.
The charter, tagged the “Abuja Declaration,” was introduced during the 2024 NOG Energy Week.
This was disclosed by the Nigerian Upstream Petrolatum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in a statement on its social media handles.
The charter seeks to promote collaboration and coordination among regulators of African petroleum-producing countries, facilitate knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and the dissemination of best practices.
It also highlights the need for enhancing the capacity of member nations in sustaining petroleum resource management and advocating for member countries’ interests at international levels in collaboration with relevant intergovernmental organisations.
“The governing structure of AFRIPERF allows each member state to nominate five competent persons into the forum. It also establishes an executive council to serve as the governing body of the forum and a central decision-making and oversight body responsible for shaping the forum’s strategic direction and policies. Other components include the secretariat and the technical and subcommittees,” the commission said.
NUPRC’s Commission Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, will serve as the pioneer chairman pending the charter’s ratification.
The African Petroleum Regulators Forum is considering granting observer status to African national oil companies.
Those present at the inaugural roundtable meeting of AFRIPERF included Mr. Egbert Faibille, the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission Ghana, Ms. kanni Touray, Deputy Director of The Gambia Petroleum Commission, officials of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) led by the CCE, and officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The forum is expected to reconvene in Abuja in three months.
