Kenya to host East Africa energy conference

A major investment conference is slated for Nairobi following recent oil, gas and coal discoveries in Kenya.

The conference for East African decision makers is meant to engage international and local investors in examining the investments opportunities in the region.

Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi will host his counterparts from South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique at the Ministers’ Official East Africa Oil and Gas Summit from November 13 to November 14.

With attendance by the ministers and senior oil and gas industry representatives from the region, the Summit is billed as the main annual international hub for the energy industry across East Africa.

Mr Murungi said: “The summit will unite regional and international investors and industry experts to share their knowledge and explore the current challenges and opportunities. It comes at a perfect time when the world's eyes are turning towards our region.”

Mr Murungi said these are extremely exciting times for the oil and gas sector throughout East Africa, both in terms of realisation of recent discoveries and also the huge potential that the region has to offer.

The minister said the summit is the first in what will become a pivotal annual event of great investor and stakeholder interest.

“It is open to both the regional and international oil and gas communities and we are very keen to learn from the best practices around the world to guide this nascent oil exploitation and production business,” said Mr Murungi. “We are looking at countries like Abu Dhabi, Norway and Ghana which have managed their oil resources fairly well as examples. However, we want to make Kenya a case study of the best management of oil in the world.”

Tullow oil who were behind the successful oil discovery in Turkana County early this year, lead a long list of firms which have signed up to bring in delegates to the conference.

With more than 100 companies represented by senior figures, company delegations are led by National Oil Corporation Kenya, Tullow, Petrobras, Halliburton, Shell, Exxon, Africa Oil Corp, Anadarko, Weatherford, Fugro, Total SA, Afren, Chase Bank, Camac Energy, Bertling, Ernst & Young, CCC, Imara Energy, Alpha Marine, Alba Petroleum, Simba, Nilepet, Ophir, Heritage and Yokagawa.

Ministers who have confirmed attendance are Mr Stephen Dhieu Dau (Minister for Petroleum and Mining, South Sudan); Ms Irene Muloni (Minister of Energy & Minerals, Uganda) and Mr Abdul Razak Noormahomed (Vice-Minister, Ministry for Mineral Resources Mozambique).

Sponsors for the summit include NOC Kenya, Africa Oil Corp, Simba Energy, Bertling Logistics, Newport Africa and Hybrid Solutions.