SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

New African Energy - The Ripple Effect

The Topic

Cross sector investment prospects from the continent’s new Oil and Gas discoveries and renewable energy developments.

Africa is endowed with substantial energy resources from both hydrocarbon and renewable sources. These not only produce enormous opportunities for those directly involved in the production but offer wide ranging opportunities for business in other sectors. BCA West and Southern and the African Business Group at SOAS are delighted to host a joint meeting to highlight these new energy sources and explore their wider investment potential.

Background

New oil and gas discoveries in Sub-Saharan Africa are attracting international investors and developers as they seek to capitalise on the numerous opportunities. East Africa’s rift system and Rovuma Basin, West Africa’s Transform Margin (WATM) and the Gulf of Guinea pre-salt plays are just the top 3 geographic hydrocarbons hubs in Africa that have generated excitement amongst investors in 2012.

So what of the other opportunities? Energy industry services will be needed but beyond traditional exploration and production, downstream openings are abundant. The wide ranging service sector including finance, accommodation and logistics all stand to grow notwithstanding the power, petrochemical and fertilizer industries and the latter’s knock on effect for regional agriculture.

Likewise similar investment opportunities can be associated with large-scale renewable projects such as the DRC Inga dam hydro project and large solar power developments in the Sahel region.

At the other end of the scale SMEs are already providing small-scale renewable products, such as solar powered flashlights, lanterns, cell-phone battery chargers and clean burning cook stoves.

The transformation of the African energy landscape combines commercial imperatives with social and developmental challenges. This meeting will look at the bigger picture and the opportunities presented by the ripple effect of these new discoveries.

The Programme

For more more information and to know about the fee download the programme or visit http://www.bcafrica.co.uk/events/details/45-new-african-energy-the-ripple-effect.