Wole Ogunsanya, Chairman PETAN
The Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Engr. Wole Ogunsanya, FNSE, has called for deeper collaboration, sustained investment, and stronger indigenous leadership to secure Africa’s energy future, as the Sub-Saharan African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) marked its 10th anniversary in Lagos.
Ogunsanya made the call while delivering the opening address at SAIPEC 2026, themed *“A Decade of Driving Africa’s Energy Future,”* describing the conference as a defining platform that has reshaped Africa’s energy narrative over the past decade.
Welcoming participants, including government officials, regulators, industry leaders, investors, and development partners, the PETAN chairman commended stakeholders for sustaining SAIPEC into what he described as Africa’s premier energy conference and exhibition.
Reflecting on its origins, Ogunsanya noted that SAIPEC was conceived ten years ago not merely as an annual event, but as a movement to amplify African capabilities, encourage collaboration, and reposition the continent within the global energy landscape.
According to him, the conference has over the years driven strategic dialogue on energy policy and investment, elevated indigenous participation through local content development, connected African service companies to global opportunities, and influenced industry conversations that have translated into tangible projects.
Ogunsanya stressed that Africa’s energy future must be defined by Africans, acknowledging that while global conversations around energy transition continue, the continent’s immediate priority remains access, affordability, and reliability.
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“Over 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, and industrial growth continues to be constrained by energy deficits,” he said, adding that for Africa, energy transition should not mean abandoning hydrocarbons, but responsibly leveraging available resources while gradually integrating cleaner energy solutions.
He identified the growth of indigenous capacity across Africa’s energy value chain as one of the most significant achievements of the past decade, particularly in Nigeria, where local content policies have enabled indigenous companies to lead in drilling, engineering, fabrication, asset acquisition, field development, and technology deployment.
According to him, PETAN members have evolved from service providers to strategic partners capable of executing complex projects to international standards.
However, Ogunsanya warned that sustaining these gains would require consistent policy implementation, improved access to financing, respect for contract sanctity, timely project execution, and stronger collaboration between operators and service companies.
Looking ahead, he said the next decade of Africa’s energy journey must be driven by investment and execution, noting that capital flows are dependent on regulatory clarity, transparent processes, competitive fiscal frameworks, and bankable projects.
He also emphasized the growing role of technology, including digitalization, automation, data-driven operations, and low-carbon solutions, in improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability across the sector.
Calling for renewed partnerships, Ogunsanya urged governments, regulators, indigenous companies, international oil companies, financiers, and development institutions to work together to accelerate gas development, deepen local content utilization, create jobs, and position Africa as a competitive and reliable energy destination.
“As we mark this milestone, SAIPEC must continue to be a platform where ideas become investments and conversations translate into projects,” he said.
Ogunsanya concluded by reaffirming PETAN’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable energy industry that delivers prosperity for Africans and value for partners, describing SAIPEC 2026 as the beginning of a more ambitious chapter for the continent’s energy sector.
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