Komolafe-led African Petroleum Regulators’ Forum Seeks Cooperation among Region’s Oil Producers

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The African Petroleum Regulatory Forum (AFRIPERF), chaired by the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, has sought deeper cooperation among Africa’s oil producers.

Speaking at  its second meeting during the week, Komolafe emphasised the need for unity and cooperation among African nations to enhance the continent’s petroleum industry.
He commended the attendees for their active participation and highlighted the benefits of the APRIPERF platform, noting its role in fostering relationships among African nations to create a unified approach to petroleum regulation that can attract investment and bolster regional economic growth.

Komolafe outlined key priorities for AFRIPERF, including building capacity sustainably, harmonising regulatory frameworks for consistency and enabling member countries to effectively share expertise and best practices.
The meeting, a statement by the head, Public Affairs and Corporate Communication, NUPRC , Olaide Akinola said, was a follow-up to the forum’s inauguration on July 1, 2024, at the International Conference Centre in Garki, Abuja.
The forum aims to strengthen regional petroleum governance by fostering collaboration, cooperation and coordination among member regulators. Its objectives include harmonising petroleum regulations and standards, enhancing regulatory capacity through training as well as promoting dialogue with industry stakeholders and international organisations.

The forum seeks to address regional challenges, facilitate knowledge sharing, encourage technology transfer, and promote best practices.
Additionally, it advocates for member interests on international platforms. The forum also seeks to leverage the collective strengths of regulators to secure sustainable energy resources for development, promote investment in African petroleum exploration, ensure transparency and sound regulation, and advance ethical practices in petroleum exploitation.

During the meeting, African petroleum regulators reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration, harmonisation of regulations and sustainable growth within Africa’s petroleum sector.
Also speaking at the meeting, Mr. Egbert Fabille, the Chief Executive of Ghana’s Petroleum Commission, underscored the importance of institutionalising the forum across the continent, describing it as a vital step toward achieving a unified and progressive petroleum sector in Africa.

 Similarly, Mohammed Dukuly, a representative of the Liberian Petroleum Regulatory Authority, welcomed the APRIPERF initiative and encouraged member states to take ownership of their regulatory environments to maximise national resources for greater profitability.
At the conclusion of the meeting, several action items were agreed upon, including the adoption of an official logo for the forum, the statement said.

“Additionally, the AFRIPERF charter was reviewed and is set to be adopted at the next meeting. This review sparked a rich exchange of perspectives among the member nations.
“Members also discussed extensively on strengthening collaborative efforts among member countries, including organising a pan-African webinar on regulatory trends and investing in harmonised training programmes.
“The collective resolutions of the APRIPERF are expected to pave the way for a more robust and resilient African petroleum sector, equipping the continent to tackle current and emerging challenges in the energy industry,” the statement added.

The virtual meeting was attended by representatives from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the NUPRC, along with representatives from various regulators across Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, and Angola.