Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), has said that it is determined to use the West African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (WAIPEC) to deepen the much needed regional cooperation among the industry players in the West African oil and gas industry.
The PETAN Conference Chairman, Mr. Chubby Ibe made this known in an exclusive interview with the Orient Energy Review team during the 2018 edition of the Oil Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston Texas, USA. Ibe said that PETAN was committed to ensuring that the region benefits maximally from the huge mineral resources it is endowed with. According to the Conference Chairman who noted that WAIPEC was strategic for the realisation of regional collaboration, he said that PETAN looks forward for a an improved broader and wider participation of the industry players from different parts of the world, especially those within the African region in the WAIPEC 2019 edition. “For the 2019 WAIPEC, we are looking forward to a much wider and broader participation from African brothers and sisters. Our focus is not just on oil and gas producing countries, but also on other related industries to come and leverage on WAIPEC to see how we can collaborate and domestic the industry. If done, this will impact our citizens positively.
“Africa has come a long way in the industry, Nigeria has been a member of OPEC alongside some other countries, but we are not seeing that development on the African region. It is time for us to find a way to drive it out so that citizens can benefit from the resources we are endowed with will. We will also find a way to reach out to the larger society from oil and gas industry, a resource that is found in most African countries”, Ibe stated. Continuing, Ibe stated that despite Nigeria’s position in the comity of oil producing countries, her participation at the biggest oil and gas event in the world (OTC) remains relevant for the growth and development of the Nigeria’s sector, adding that the country cannot operate in isolation.
“We know that OTC is the biggest oil and gas event, Nigeria cannot operate in isolation. Right here, you will see the Chinese, British, Kuwait, Saudi Arabians, and other oil and even non-oil producing countries. We cannot isolate ourselves when we are part of the world. Besides, here is where we get most of the technology we take back home. “So, if we don’t come, how do we get to know the updates in the industry such as the new technology, techniques. This is where we come to interact and network, look at what other people have that are relevant to us and take it back it back home. My ideas of OTC is to come here and take something home and not for the fun of it which”, he said.