African Refiners Praise Dangote, Ghana Refineries for Boosting Energy Security
The African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA), led by Executive Secretary Anibor Kragha, is praising the recent opening of the Dangote refinery in Nigeria and the Sentuo refinery in Ghana. ARDA believes these facilities will play a critical role in meeting Africa’s growing energy demands.
“Africa’s significant future energy needs require major investments throughout the downstream sector,” said Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, ARDA president and CEO of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority. “These investments are essential to deliver cleaner fuels and essential petroleum products to our growing population.”
ARDA is calling for additional efforts alongside the new refineries. Upgrading infrastructure, improving logistics efficiency, and promoting cleaner fuels and vehicles are all seen as crucial steps.
The association also expressed a desire to collaborate with OPEC, APPO, the African Union Commission, and other stakeholders. Their goal is to establish a robust, intra-African oil and gas industry supported by innovative financing solutions, potentially including the upcoming African Energy Bank.
“Africa must have a clear and coordinated strategy,” said Anibor Kragha, ARDA’s Executive Secretary. “We need bankable energy infrastructure projects that balance our energy security needs with the global transition to cleaner energy.”
Related Posts
Kragha announced the first-ever ARDA Investment Forum, which will focus on attracting financing for Africa’s energy transition plan. The forum will highlight best practices for attracting investment, including strong regulations, effective project preparation, adherence to environmental and social responsibility standards, and development of a skilled workforce.
ARDA will hold a conference next month in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference will focus on challenges and opportunities facing the downstream oil and gas sector in Africa. Discussions will address navigating a post-COP28 world, ensuring a strong internal African oil and gas industry, and prioritizing cleaner fuels and environmental responsibility.
