The eighth edition of the Sub Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) returns to the Eko Convention Center in Lagos from 13-15 February 2024.

We chatted with industry expert and SAIPEC speaker, Dr Riverson Oppong, from the Ghana National Gas Company to learn more about his involvement with the event. 

Dr Oppong is the Commercial Manager in charge of Economic Modelling, Risk Management and Policy Planning (ERP) at the Ghana National Gas Company. He has fifteen years of global experience in the oil and gas industry. Dr Oppong is also an adjunct Lecturer at the Ghana Technology University College, a Coventry University Campus in Africa; and a visiting Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

He is an E&P Committee Member of the  International Gas Union (IGU). He is also a Section Director of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Ghana Section.

Q: Why should you attend SAIPEC 2024?

SAIPEC 2024 remains the premiere annual energy conference in SSA. The conference provides a pristine environment for dialogue on energy and its role in Africa's economic growth. The diverse solutions proffered to the myriad of issues discussed will make this conference worth your while. The opportunity to network with financiers, technical experts and leading members of the energy sector across the world is unique to SAIPEC 2024. The regulatory framework and policy governing energy across African states will be discussed extensively. Africa’s energy transition and the role of natural gas will be discussed. Africa’s role as a leading source of this untapped fuel will be extensively explored. 
 
2. You’re playing an important part of the Youth Empowerment Day at SAIPEC- can you tell us more about this?

Youth remains at the heart of Africa’s development, now and in the future. The Youth Empowerment Day is a unique opportunity to hear from the youth whilst equipping them with sufficient motivation and knowledge to pursue further development in Africa. This initiative will afford young professionals a further understanding of technology and the role of the next generation as well as their role in securing the future of the industry. The energy transition is the issue at hand currently. This event focuses on the various roles young professionals will have to play in the subsequent years to ensure the energy transition considering the state of the continents’ energy resources. 
 
3. How can the oil, gas and energy sector be more inclusive, especially to younger, newcomers to the industry?

Inclusivity comes through championing the various avenues to influence the industry to the Young Professionals. It is important to focus on recruitment and preach inclusivity based on gender, race and sexual orientation. Personal development through enrolment in STEM courses will entice more to join the industry.

For more information about SAIPEC click here. 

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