The Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers\u2019 Organization (APPO) is calling for action on reforming Africa\u2019s energy sector \u2014 including prioritizing intra-African trade, creating economic diversification through the energy sector and calling for increased cooperation among Africa\u2019s oil producing and non-oil producing countries to strengthen Africa\u2019s position on the global stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe instability of commodity prices in general and oil in particular again reveals the short-term nature of our development policies and the weakness of the strategies of stabilization and diversification of economies that would lead to sustainable development if properly implemented. The strategy is to learn to deal with the changes in the oil market through a strong vision and good economic governance in general, and good economic governance of petroleum resources in particular,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0H.E. Mahaman Laouan Gaya, Secretary General of APPO in an interview with Africa Oil & Power.<\/em><\/p>\n Gaya is leading deep reforms at APPO\u00a0(renamed from the previous African Petroleum Producers\u2019 Association as part of this agenda). These include aligning APPO\u2019s mission and goals with the energy programs of several international organizations, including the World Petroleum Council, the World Energy Council, the African Union, the United Nations and the African Development Bank, and positioning APPO as a strong African voice at these and other international forums.<\/p>\n Gaya aims to encourage more synergy within Africa\u2019s APPO\u2019s 18 member countries (out of 20 oil producers on the continent) as well as the additional 30 African countries that are exploring for oil and gas reserves. “In the new APPO Statutes, it is stipulated that any African country with proven hydrocarbon reserves (not necessarily in the production phase) may be a full member of the organization. Our current concern is therefore to assist African countries in creating more synergies in their oil and gas industries. This is what will strengthen Africa\u2019s influence in world markets and enable it to better meet its own energy needs. The hydrocarbons potential is there and, in the years to come, believe me, Africa will bring some big surprises in the oil and gas sector,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The reformed APPO has emerged in 2018 as an influential force alongside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in world energy policy, and has increased its cooperation with these organizations. This is vital\u00a0to achieve African influence on the global stage, especially in the environment of global cooperation after the fall in oil prices, says the secretary general.<\/p>\n Critical to the APPO\u2019s continued development will be the APPO Cape VII Exhibition and Conference held April 1-5 in Malabo, which will unite APPO members and additional African players in the continent\u2019s oil and gas sector with the top investors in the global oil and gas sector, including international oil companies, independents and Africa\u2019s many national oil companies.\u00a0\u00a0For the continent\u2019s oil producers, the exhibition and conference represents an opportunity to cooperate on the prosperity and stability by gathering and jointly generate ideas.<\/p>\n \u201cEmphasis in reform will be placed on close coordination and new synergy between member countries. This reform will focus on creating a united African front on the global energy stage \u2013 which will certainly increase the power of the African voice \u2013 and on increase intra-African cooperation on projects, trans-border infrastructure, joint refineries and other major infrastructure projects,\u201d Gaya added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"