According to the organizers of this conference, the African Energy Chamber (AEC), following the move of the AOW from Cape Town to Dubai due to the covid-19 pandemic, the head of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is one of the figures who preferred to discuss Africa's oil sector on the continent itself rather than in the Middle East.
The move of the AOW from Cape Town to Dubai has been heavily criticized by African oil industry leaders, who feel that a conference on the African oil sector needs to be held on the continent and not elsewhere.
"The AOW commitment to hold a conference on African soil has gathered broad support from industry players and the general public and has gathered an unprecedented level of support less than a week after it was announced," reads a note sent to Lusa, which reports on the participation of oil ministers from Angola, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo at the event in Cape Town in mid-November.
The secretary-general of OPEC, Mohammed Barkindo, "has just confirmed his presence at the AEW, which will be held from 9 to 12 November in Cape Town, in a demonstration of the high-level support that this event is gathering throughout the industry," reads the CAE note.
In addition, one can also read, the ministers "Diamantino Azevedo of Angola, Bruno Itoua of Congo, and Gabriel Obiang Lima of Equatorial Guinea have also confirmed their presence at the Chamber's first Pan-African event.
The organizers hope to be "the ultimate venue of the year for energy industry leaders from across the continent to come together and discuss the future of the oil industry, the pathways and solutions for Africa's energy transition, and the promotion of more cooperation in the sector among major energy players."
Quoted in the release, CAE President NJ Ayuk said that "it is a wonder to see how the industry has embraced this initiative and come together in an international event, focused on African energy, organized on African land, to discuss African opportunities and the energy future in a context of increasing pressure on the continent and on energy producers and investors."
Last month, AOW's organizer, British consultancy Hyve, announced the conference's change of venue from Johannesburg to Dubai, citing concerns over the pandemic situation, and assuring that it will return to the African continent next year.
AOW brings together the major oil operators on the continent, and has confirmed the presence of several multinationals, including Chevron and TotalEnergies, whose president, Patrick Pouyanné, has already confirmed his presence at the exhibition in Dubai, which runs from November 8 to 11.
This week the consultancy firm signed an agreement with the South African government to hold the show in 2022 and the following two years in Cape Town.
