The national oil company of South Sudan, NILEPET (https://apo-opa.info/40u5eao), was in the spotlight tonight at an investment reception in Dubai. The Invest in African Energy reception was hosted by the African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org/) in Dubai in partnership with S&P Global Commodity Insights and Afreximbank.

Bernard A. Makeny, Managing Director of NILEPET, and Opoku A. Danquah, CEO of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, spoke on the opening panel titled ‘Africa’s Advantage: Taking Advantage of Africa’s Upstream Opportunities’.

They were joined by Matthew Rawlings, VP Upstream Consulting (ME), S&P Global Commodity Insights and the session was moderated by Geoff Warr, Consulting Director, S&P Global Commodity Insights.

The NILEPET Managing Director emphasized the upstream opportunities available in South Sudan. The country enjoys a distinct advantage as the region’s sole oil producer. Moreover, as Makeny said, neighbouring countries are already major stakeholders with an interest in working together for the common good. South Sudan, in developing its upstream sector and other value chain opportunities, benefits from a large market and associated opportunities when it works together with its neighbours.

Makeny also explored solutions around servicing the downstream market and expanding the midstream sector for the local and regional market; expanding local capacity and creating employment, and working towards the common good of the continent. “Africa has a lot to offer the world. This century should be the African century,” he said.

NILEPET’s meetings in Dubai take place ahead of the sixth edition of the South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) conference (https://apo-opa.info/3Zym5rc) on 14-16 June 2023. As host sponsor, NILEPET invited investors in Dubai to join South Sudan’s energy community in Juba for the SSOP 2023 event. The theme for this year’s SSOP conference is ‘Engine of East African Growth’.