The day began with much anticipated addresses from the South African Minister of Energy Hon. Jeff Radebe; Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima; Former President of Zambia H.E. Rupiah Bwezani Banda; and OPEC Secretary General H.E. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo.

In his speech, Barkindo outlined the positive impact of OPEC’s Declaration of Cooperation, in which OPEC members and non-members collaborated on production cuts since late 2016, on the global oil industry and the importance of African nations to the success of that initiative.

The first panel of the day, moderated by Lerato Mbele-Roberts, Presenter from BBC World News, unpacked the conference theme, Energy Coalitions. Joining the panel were H.E. Dr. Sun Xiansheng, Secretary General of the International Energy Forum, H.E. Yury Sentyurin, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and H.E. Mahaman Laouan Gaya, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization

Gaya said political will and the highest support from government was needed for the effective facilitation of new deals and alliances in the oil and gas sector. “We have to use petroleum as a key factor to develop Africa,” he said.

Addressing the theme of Energy Coalitions and cooperation within the African energy sector, Sentyurin said GECF welcomed new partnerships. “GECF has 12 member countries and five of our esteemed members are from Africa,” he added. Sentyurin also acknowledged the potential of Africa to increase its presence in the global energy sector as it continues to increase its number of oil and gas producing nations.

In his keynote, Radebe said that “energy coalitions are relevant as they address industry needs, energy challenges and the need to bring private-public partnership into the fold.”

Africa Oil & Power 2018 continues at the Cape Town International Convention Centre until September 7.