-By Fred Ojiegbe
Unfazed by the headwinds in the oil and gas industry, the global oil community will gather once again in Abuja for the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS).
With full backing of the Federal Government of Nigeria and building on the success of previous editions, the focus of the upcoming NIPS 2020 edition will be on “widening the integration circle, emerging technologies and cross pollination of ideas”
NIPS, the official oil and gas meeting of the Federal Government of Nigeria, has over the years evolved into a must-attend industry event for all industry stakeholders.
This year’s edition, which is the 3rd will start from February 9 – 13, 2020 and will be declared open on 10th February, 2020 at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja by President Muhammadu Buhari.
With on-going reforms in the petroleum sector and improved engagement with host communities, Nigeria is positioning herself to be the foremost oil and gas investment destination.
Within a short time of its debut, NIPS has been a great success as it is now considered as the major platform for the oil and gas industry in Nigeria and Africa in general to show its success stories, the plans and investment opportunities and provide a stage for exchanging information and ideas about issues that are related to the industry.
The event is a convergence of African and global energy heavyweights and it is a reflection of Nigeria’s unique place on the map of oil and gas industry regionally and internationally.
Valuechain gathered that this year’s event will attract over 5,000 diversified local and international delegates across the various sub-sectors and disciplines in the energy, oil and gas vast value chain.
As Nigeria’s official petroleum and pan-Africa event, NIPS 2020 is designed as a meeting place for the oil and gas industry to introduce new technologies, share ideas that will lead to development of new strategies.
The 1st and 2nd editions of NIPS held in 2018 and 2019 attracted high-level attendance from across the continent and beyond.
This year, the event is concentrated on technology development, gas utilisation and commercialisation of Nigeria’s oil and gas assets.
Discussions will also centre on technology, knowledge, sustainability and partnership that can enhance inflow of foreign investments while improving success rates of indigenous business engagements.
Determined to show Nigeria as the leading oil and gas investment destination, the conference will feature a spotlight session on Nigeria’s LNG Train-7 project, which reached a final investment decision on the major gas expansion agreement set to boost the plant’s production capacity to 30 million tons per annum (mtpa) from the current 22.5 mtpa.
In addition, NIPS will provide an opportunity for the nation to outline how local companies can lend a hand to the advancement of the country’s petroleum industry as they work to boost output.
Another major highlight of NIPS 2020 is the roll out of the World Oil Outlook (WOO2020) by H.E Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary-General, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The event also intends to provide networking platform for key political decision-makers, government officials and industry specialists.
The event is expected to trigger close interaction amongst the Nigerian political decision makers, government officials, industry specialists, leaders in the private sector and oil and gas sector, resulting in cross pollination of ideas.
Also, the well-coordinated international exhibition usually organized along with the event provides great opportunities for companies to network and showcase their expertise and market their goods and services, directly to key decision makers.
Under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC, NIPS which continues to be West Africa’s leading oil and gas event, is the established meeting place for the entire Nigerian oil and gas value chain from ministries and government organisations to leading international and indigenous producers and service providers.
Just like the previous two editions, the summit will host the who’s who of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria in addition to the participation of several foreign bodies like OPEC, APPO, IEC, several foreign ministers and delegates across global energy industry.
The event is a meeting point between key Nigerian political decision-makers, government officials as well as directors and specialists from the Ministry, NNPC and other relevant governmental bodies on the one part and Directors of National & International companies, multinational and multilateral organizations, the academia and other relevant stakeholders, etc. on the other hand.
Already, confirmed guests include Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary-General, OPEC; Younghoon David Kim, Chairman, World Energy Council; Omar Farouq Ibrahim, Secretary-General, African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO); Dr. Sun Xiansheng, Secretary-General, International Energy Forum (IEF) amongst other reputable international stakeholders.
Also confirmed to attend are Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, SPDC/Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria; Michael Sangster-Managing Director & Chief Executive, Total E&P Nigeria Limited (TEPNG); Paul McGrath, Chairman OPTS/Managing Director, ExxonMobil; Simbi K. Wabote, Executive Secretary Nigeria Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Ahmed A. Bobboi, Executive Secretary Petroleum Equalisation Fund (Management) Board; and Tony Attah, Managing Director, Nigeria LNG Limited among others.