DEREGULATION: AFRICA DOWNSTREAM OPERATORS CONVERGE IN ABUJA

By Kunle Kalejaye
Following the imminent deregulation of the downstream sector via the proposed subsidy removal from 2012, major stakeholders in the downstream oil sector are poised to gather in Abuja for this year's Africa Oil Trading and Logistics Expo (OTL Africa Downstream) which will brain-storm on the total deregulation of the sector.

Africa Oil Trading and Logistics Expo believes that only organizations that are well positioned to offer value to Nigerians will survive the new era of downstream energy in view of the competitive nature of the sector.

The conference is expected to be declared open by the Honorable Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, while speakers include chief executives from all major petroleum regulatory organizations and key private companies.

Focus areas cover petroleum marketing, trading, financing, logistics, storage and pricing. Others include downstream gas, refining, petrochemicals and alternative fuels.

The downstream exhibition is expected to showcase the best offerings available for downstream related businesses, and features a wide range of industry and related players across the downstream petroleum value-chain.

The event has been endorsed by several industry operators, and participation expected from the key industry organizations including the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria,(MOMAN) the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria,(IPMAN) the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), the Petroleum Equalisation Management Board (PEFMB), the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) and the Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria.

The event is scheduled to take place from 2-4 November 2011 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.