Many African countries are harnessing gas and other cleaner and greener energies to drive their industrialisation journey. African countries including Ghana and Nigeria are investing in gas infrastructure and promoting its utilisation, and by extension are addressing energy poverty and environmental challenges.

The Honourable Minister of Energy for Ghana, H.E. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who recently confirmed his participation in the NOG Energy Week, taking place from 30 June to 4 July at the ICC, Abuja, amplified the need for competitive financing to propel natural gas projects.  

Nigeria, boasting gas reserves of over 200TCF, recently announced plans to execute a gas strategy that will trigger the nations industrialisation and economic growth. NNPC Limited’s Executive Vice President for Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, shared the organisation’s plans to deepen domestic gas utilisation for power generation in a bid to support the manufacturing sector. 

To transform the energy sector in West Africa, leveraging natural gas to drive economic growth and development is key. Gas for industrialisation contributes to increasing energy transition progress across the region. From revitalising key industries to fostering innovation, the strategic focus on gas underscores a commitment to propel West Africa towards a future built on energy security and economic resilience. Through the Decade of Gas Initiative by the Nigerian government, industry leaders have continually conveyed a collaborative approach aimed at unlocking the country’s energy resources.

To drive progress in Sub-Saharan Africa’s energy market, energy stakeholders, government officials, regulators, and key industry players are convening at NOG Energy Week 2024 to deliberate on policies aimed at meeting West Africa’s energy demand. The event, themed “Showcasing Opportunities. Driving Investment. Meeting Energy Demand.”, is scheduled to take place from 30 June – 4 July at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja. 

Speaking on what stakeholders should expect at NOG Energy Week 2024 (www.NOGEenergyweek.com), the Country Director – Nigeria&Portfolio Director – Africa for dmg events, Wemimo Oyelana, said,

“Our commitment for almost 25 years has been to provide a platform where industry leaders can have frank conversations that proffer solutions to the different challenges the industry is facing. NOG Energy Week has contributed significantly to key policy development&implementation over the years. We look forward to having industry stakeholders discuss pertinent issues including; Attracting International and Regional Funding Into Nigeria’s Energy Sector, Optimising the Significance of Natural Gas as the Fuel Of Choice, and Driving Industrialisation as a Catalyst for Economic Growth. 

Expected government officials and industry leaders at NOG Energy Week 2024 are; H.E. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), H.E. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy, Ghana, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream&Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer,  NNPC Limited, Elohor Aiboni, Managing Director, Shell Nigeria’s Exploration and Production Company Limited, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director&Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria LNG, Eberechukwu Oji, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ND Western, Dr Ernest Azudialu – Obiejesi OFR, Chairman, Nestoil Limited, Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC, Julius Rone OFR, Group Managing Director, UTM FLNG Limited, Daere Akobo. F.IoD, F.IMC, CMC, Group Chief Executive Officer, PANA Holdings, among others.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of NOG Energy Week.

About NOG Energy Week:
NOG Energy Week 2024 is produced by dmg Nigeria events, a subsidiary of dmg Events with over 80 Conferences and Exhibitions across the world such as Adipec, and Gastech. The 23rd edition of the event will unite leaders, policymakers, regulators, and professionals from across the globe in the oil, gas and energy industry to address energy transition and transformation, as well as emerging business opportunities within the country.

Alongside the Strategic Conference, NOG Energy Week 2024 will also host an international Exhibition, leadership roundtables, a plethora of networking events, and an award ceremony to recognise exceptional achievements and contributions within Nigeria’s energy industry.

For further information about NOG Energy Week 2024, please visit www.NOGEenergyweek.com.

As Africa seeks to improve its supply of and access to refined petroleum products, a midstream and downstream-focused panel will explore investment opportunities in the sector at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) (www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com) forum, kicking off next week in Paris.

The session will uncover dynamic business, trade and partnership opportunities for pipeline projects across the continent, as well as crude oil storage facilities, fuel product tanks, oil refining and gas processing capacity and distribution infrastructure. In emphasizing the pivotal role these projects play in advancing Africa’s energy sector – by unlocking lucrative export revenue and delivering fuel to energy-hungry markets – the discussion will provide a roadmap to ensuring energy security and stability of assets, while minimizing environmental impact.

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, IAE 2024 is an exclusive forum designed to foster collaboration between European investors and African energy markets. Taking place May 14-15, 2024, in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors, and policymakers. For more information, please visit https://apo-opa.co/3wvcNUm.

Several massive infrastructure projects are underway across the continent, where midstream and downstream projects comprise more than half of the total oil and gas projects set to be deployed between now and 2028. In West Africa, Nigeria is developing the $3.5-billion Brass Methanol Plant to produce methanol, urea and ammonia, as well as completing the Train 7 Expansion Project at the Nigeria LNG plant, fueling LNG exports to the region. The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline is also underway, delivering Nigerian gas across 11 African countries to Morocco, and then onto Europe.

In East Africa, EACOP is set to transport oil from Uganda’s Tilenga and Kingfisher fields to Tanzania’s Port of Tanga for global export. The Uganda National Oil Company is also seeking partners for its Buloba oil storage project, which will be used as a strategic national fuel reserve unit and to facilitate exports. Meanwhile, billion-dollar integrated gas developments are unfolding across the continent – including three LNG facilities in Mozambique, Congo LNG, Tanzania LNG and more – boosting Africa’s gas liquefaction capacity and involving extensive pipeline infrastructure for processing and export.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a contribution of US$1.5 million from the Government of the People’s Republic of China through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) to provide nutritious meals for thousands of school children in Burundi.

The funding will enable WFP to purchase 985 MT of maize and 245 MT of yellow split peas and benefit 42,000 school children for one year in Bubanza, Bujumbura, and Cibitoke Provinces of the country.

Speaking during a launch event at Buganda elementary school in Cibitoke Province, H. E. Zhao Jiangping, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Burundi said; “China is pleased to support school meals that improve children’s nutrition, enabling them to focus on their studies and achieve better results at school. Indeed, this project is the first successful practice of tripartite cooperation between China and the UN agency in Burundi under the “Fund for Global Development and South-South Cooperation”. China is committed to promoting the development of human capital, with the aim of helping Burundi to realize its “2040&2060” development vision, and to go further, to jointly build a Sino-Burundian community with a shared future.

School meals programmes can be a powerful incentive for impoverished families to enroll their children in school. A study carried out by Harvard University in Burundi shows school meals represent a saving of 14 per cent of a household food expenditure and enable students to concentrate on their studies, leading to sustainable increases in school enrolment and lower dropout rates. It also shows that schools with canteens have a 5.1 per cent higher success rate in exams and a 3.6 per cent lower dropout rate compared with the national average.

The government of Burundi has identified school canteens as the largest social safety net for vulnerable children and has increased the national financial contribution to the school meals programme by more than 100 per cent for the year 2023-2024.

“In Burundi, 700,000 children, i.e. one out of four school children currently benefit from a school meal. Our commitment goes even further, as we aim to achieve universal access by 2032″, says Pr François Havyarimana, Minister of Education and Scientific Research in Burundi.

“This critical support from the Government of the People’s Republic of China will enable WFP to work alongside the Government of Burundi to improve the health, nutrition and education of thousands of school children, investing in their futures and building a brighter tomorrow, says Arduino Mangoni, WFP’s Acting Country Director in Burundi.” 

School meals are an investment in Burundi’s future. Research studies evaluate that the multi-sectoral impacts of the national school meals programme bring US$ 5.2 in return for each US$1 invested. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Meet Mary Mungwere. She is a Village Health Worker (VHW) in Ringari Village, Makonde District and attached to Umboe Clinic. 

When she received training for cervical cancer screening using HPV DNA testing in November 2023, Mary wasted no time in mobilizing her community through door-to-door interactions. Fast forward to today, Mary’s efforts have resulted in 75 women being screened in her community alone, contributing to over 30,000 tests conducted in Mashonaland West Province.

“We were trained in November, and only two VHWs received that training from this area,” said Anna. “After that, we started mobilizing communities, and I service beyond five villages and now, some of those not yet tested come to my house looking for screening services.”

One such beneficiary, 42-year-old Maroro Nyumbwe, shares her story.

“I did the test, and after two weeks, I was called to the clinic to collect my results. They were positive, and further tests were done to confirm my diagnosis. Although it was tough news, I am grateful for the early detection.”

Umboe Clinic, nestled within the hard-to-reach part of Makonde, Mashonaland West Province, is one of 22 primary level facilities providing cervical cancer screening closer to and within communities. The clinic is one of the facilities chosen for a pilot programme which commenced in 2023 and aimed to enhance screen services in rural areas.

“Working with VHWs we have trained them to collect samples to bring to the facility using integrated transport system, so we have decentralized services to village level,” said Dr Celestino Dhege Provincial Medical Director for Mashonaland West.

He added, “While the need to strengthen vaccination is imminent, we have to strengthen screening for women who are no longer eligible for HPV vaccination.”

Recently, the clinic hosted a team led by the Minister of Health Dr Douglas Mombeshora and a high-level delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters, including the Director for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Dr. Bente Mikkelsen. Their visit, which was part of a three-country mission aimed to assess the country’s progress in cervical cancer elimination and explore avenues for collaboration.

Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern in Zimbabwe, ranking fourth globally and regionally, with alarming incidence and mortality rates. Annually, approximately 3,043 women in Zimbabwe are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and tragically, 1,976 lives are lost to the disease. While Zimbabwe has established screening programmes, access remains uneven. As of 2019, only 20% of the population had access to screening services, with urban areas exhibiting alarmingly low rates of 3% and rural areas slightly higher rates at 10%.

“While we have made significant progress in eliminating our efforts, access to these essential services remains uneven across Zimbabwe,” said Dr. Mombeshora. “Women in rural areas, and even more in urban centers, continue to face challenges in obtaining screenings and other preventive measures.”

Despite this, Zimbabwe has made commendable strides in its response to cervical cancer. In 2018, the country introduced an HPV vaccination program with an impressive coverage rate of 89.7% in its inaugural year. To improve screening services, Zimbabwe now has over 200 sites conducting Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIAC) and 60 sites performing HPV tests, facilitating early detection and prompt intervention. The recent programme where VHWs are engaged to provide screening will also enhance capacity and expand access to these services. Additionally, efforts to raise awareness and improve access to screening and treatment services are ongoing.

The visit by the WHO HQ NCDs team marks a pivotal moment in Zimbabwe’s fight against cervical cancer. Collaboration with international partners and advocating for access to pledged funds present opportunities to scale up interventions and expand access to life-saving services. A comprehensive, costed plan will provide a roadmap for targeted interventions, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and sustained momentum in the fight against this devastating disease.

“Eliminating cervical cancer in Zimbabwe requires a multi-pronged approach,” noted Dr. Mikkelsen, “with a focus on scaling up screening, vaccination programs, and public awareness campaigns. To achieve this, we need to build a strong case and secure the commitment of all stakeholders for a clear path forward.”

In 2018, WHO adopted a global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. This ambitious plan aims to achieve several key goals by 2030: vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15, ensuring 70% of women receive high-performance screening tests at 35 and 45 years old, and treating 90% of women diagnosed with precancer or cervical disease. Additionally, 90% of women with invasive cancer will receive management by 2030. WHO is actively supporting Zimbabwe with technical expertise to help the country reach these critical targets.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organzation (WHO) – Zimbabwe.