Delivering his Welcome Address to delegates and participants at the opening ceremony of Nigeria Annual International Conference & Exhibition (NAICE), organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigeria Council, Chairman, Salahuddeen Tahir, pointed out that for over forty remarkable years, NAICE brings together energy industry professionals.
NAICE looks forward to connecting, sharing knowledge, and proffering solutions to critical issues within the sector and across society.
Tahir disclosed that SPE is the foremost professional association for petroleum industry practitioners worldwide, with over 127,000 members across 145 countries.
In his words: “In Nigeria, our paid membership is over 15,000 (including student members), spread across five sections (Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, Benin, and Abuja) and 47 vibrant student chapters.”
“Our mission is to connect a global community of engineers, scientists, and related energy professionals to exchange knowledge, innovate, and advance their technical and professional competence regarding the exploration, development, and production of oil & gas as well as related energy resources towards achieving a safe, secure, and sustainable energy future. SPE’s vision is to advance the oil and gas-producing and related energy communities’ ability to meet the world’s energy needs in a safe, secure, and sustainable manner.”
NAICE has maintained its position as the foremost energy conference in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over the years, the International Conference has provided its partners, sponsors, exhibitors, and conference participants with wide-ranging opportunities to grow their businesses, unveil new technologies, and deepen, as well as expand, their technical capabilities.
It provides access to the industry’s key decision-makers, the latest industry innovations, best practices, state-of-the-art technologies, and investment opportunities. Ladies and gentlemen, it may interest you to note that the planning of this international conference is solely undertaken by SPE members who volunteer their time, energy, and resources to ensure its resounding success. No, I repeat no program manager is employed to deliver any part of this event. We immediately commence planning activities for the next NAICE at the end of the preceding international conference.
The SPE helmsman said after wide consultations and understudying the industry outlook, SPE Nigeria Council resolved to beam the spotlight this year on the need to ensure a viable integrated midstream and downstream sector as the energy transition gathers towards enhancing the sustainability of the upstream oil and gas sector.
The NAICE 2024 theme as resolved is, “Petroleum Industry Value Chain Optimization: The Inevitability of Midstream and Downstream Development.” To ensure sustainability, optimization of the petroleum industry value chain is necessary, and the development of the midstream and downstream sectors plays a significant role in achieving this optimization. The midstream sector involves the transportation, storage, and wholesale marketing of crude oil and natural gas, while the downstream sector focuses on refining crude oil into various petroleum products and distributing them to end consumers. Without an effective, efficient, and vibrant midstream and downstream sector, investments in the upstream become meaningless. “Our God-given natural resources will forever remain in its raw state.”
Overall, the optimization of the midstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry value chain is essential for attracting investments to the upstream, achieving operational efficiency across the value chain, and meeting the demands of the market in a cost-effective manner. It allows for the smooth flow of resources, maximizes the value of hydrocarbons, and ensures a reliable supply of petroleum products to consumers.
The SPE Chairman assured delegates that NAICE 2024 will get insights into the state of the industry, policy direction, and strategy from government decision-makers and business leaders.