Olusola Bello
The Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region has been described as an excellent hub for future upstream growth with opportunities and a ready market for diversification into other allied areas such as refining, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and power.
Dr. ABC Orjiako, chairman, Seplat Energy who dropped this hint urged Africans and foreign investors alike to harness the growth potential of African developing countries to boost development and global growth. He added that the challenges of SSA present a significant opportunity for those seeking returns.
The Seplat Energy boss who delivered a keynote address at the ‘Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Oil/Gas Conference with the theme: The Future of Upstream, Advancing Digitalization and Gas Development Options in Sub-Saharan Africa, in Houston, Texas, Unite States of America, urged energy corporations to show responsibility in neutralising their respective emission footprints and sign up for climate change policies to protect the environment.
He also implored Sub Sahara Africa policymakers to embrace programmes that will strike the needed balance, stating that as the world moves toward energy transition with Climate Change/ESG Advocacy/Policy Changes dominating the energy discussion, gas will continue to play an increasingly important role.
The new way of thinking, he said had led the Company to change its name from Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc to Seplat Energy Plc. He asserted: “Our unique business direction reflects our renewed focus on the entire energy value chain while incorporating cleaner and more sustainable forms of energy to power Nigeria / Africa’s present and future demand.”
Seplat Energy and its Board Chairman were given global awards at the Energy & Corporate Africa Leadership Award for outstanding indigenous performance. While the company was recognized as the largest indigenous domestic supplier of gas, Dr. Orjiako won the top indigenous entrepreneur award in the energy sector.