ARDA WEEK 2023
Speakers and Panellists
Day 1 | Monday 13th March

Mrs. Marième Ndoye Decraene
ARDA President and DG, SAR Refinery
10.00: Welcome & Introduction – ARDA President & Conference moderator
Mme Marième Ndoye Decraene
Marième is the Director General of the African Refining Company (SAR) since November 11, 2020 after leading, from November 2016 to August 2020, the UFC-MCA Senegal II which was in charge of the coordination, formulation and preparation for the implementation of a Compact focusing exclusively on the energy sector. In her tenure at UFC-MCA Senegal II, she led an interdisciplinary team and coordinated the intervention of several stakeholders at the institutional, technical, civil society and private sector levels. The Compact consists of a portfolio of projects capable of removing the major constraint on Senegal’s economic growth related to the high cost of energy and low access to electricity.
Previously, Marième held the position of Director of Roads within the Ministry in charge of infrastructure and land transport, from April 2013 to January 2018 (cumulatively at the UFC-MCA between November 2016 and January 2018) where she worked on the development and implementation of the strategy for implementing the road transport policy taking into account spatial mobility, connectivity, regional integration, rural accessibility, urban mobility, road safety, environmental, social inclusion and gender dimensions
In her professional career, she has also held various other positions and had various experiences, including Technical Director of the Road Network Maintenance Fund, Managing Director of a private company and high-level positions in public agencies. This has allowed it to work directly with leading development partners such as the World Bank Group, the European Union, the African Development Bank, the Millennium Challenge Corporation etc.
An engineer in civil engineering, specialized in road infrastructure, Marième also holds a university degree in integrated quality, safety and environmental management system.
Mariéme has been President of ARDA since January 2021 and acclaimed by ARDA Members at their Ordinary General Assembly.
Marième est la Directrice générale de la Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR) depuis le 11 Novembre 2020 après a dirigé, de novembre 2016 à Août 2020, l’UFC-MCA Sénégal II qui avait en charge la coordination, la formulation et la préparation à la mise en œuvre d’un Compact portant exclusivement sur le secteur de l’énergie. Dans son mandat à l’UFC-MCA Sénégal II, elle a été à la tête d’une équipe interdisciplinaire et a coordonné l’intervention de plusieurs parties prenantes aux niveaux institutionnel, technique, de la société civile et du secteur privé. Le Compact consiste en un portefeuille de projets à même de lever la contrainte majeure à la croissance économique du Sénégal portant sur le coût élevé de l’énergie et le faible accès à l’électricité.
Auparavant, Marième a occupé le poste de Directeur des Routes au sein du Ministère en charge des infrastructures et des transports terrestres, de avril 2013 à janvier 2018 (cumulativement à l’UFC-MCA entre novembre 2016 et janvier 2018) où elle a travaillé à l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre de la stratégie de mise en œuvre de la politique des transports routière prenant compte la mobilité spatiale, la connectivité, l’intégration régionale, l’accessibilité rurale, la mobilité urbaine, la sécurité routière, les dimensions environnementale, d’inclusion sociale et de genre.
Dans son parcours professionnel, elle a également occupé divers autres postes et a eu diverses expériences, notamment, Directrice technique du Fonds d’entretien pour réseau routier, Directrice générale d’une entreprise privée et des postes de haut niveau dans des agences publiques. Ce qui lui a permis de travailler directement avec des partenaires au développement leader comme le Groupe de la Banque Mondiale, l’Union Européenne, la Banque Africaine de Développment, le Millénium Challenge Corporation etc.
Ingénieur de conception en génie civil, spécialisée en infrastructures routières, à la base, Marième est aussi titulaire d’un diplôme universitaire en système de gestion intégrée de la qualité, de la sécurité et de l’environnement.
Mariéme est Présidente de l’ARDA depuis Janvier 2021 et plébiscitée par les Membres de l’ARDA lors de leur Assemblée Générale Ordinaire.

Mr. Anibor Kragha
Executive Secretary, ARDA
10.15: Balancing Energy Transition and Security for the African Downstream
Anibor Kragha
Mr. Anibor Kragha is Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA), a position he has held from April 2020 to date. He also served as ARDA President from March 2019 to March 2020. Prior to ARDA, Mr. Kragha served as Group General Manager, Treasury and Chief Operating Officer, Refining & Petrochemicals at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from September 2015 and July 2019.
Before NNPC, Mr. Kragha spent over ten years working for Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), culminating in serving as Upstream Treasurer for ExxonMobil (EM) Affiliates in Nigeria from 2012 to 2015. He also held various roles in EM Upstream Africa Audit, MPN’s Commercial and Treasurer’s groups, EM Development Company and HQ Corporate Affiliate Finance in Nigeria and the USA.
Mr. Kragha holds a B.S. Chemical Engineering (University of Minnesota), M.S. Plastics Engineering (University of Massachusetts-Lowell) and Masters degrees (M.S. Chemical Engineering and MBA) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari
Group CEO, NNPC Limited
10.30: Balancing Energy Transition and Security for the African Downstream
Mele Kyari
He was appointed the 19th Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in July 2019 and transitioned to become the Group CEO following the incorporation of NNPC Limited. He joined NNPC in 1991 and has served in various roles within the Corporation.
In 2015, Mr. Kyari was appointed Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, where he made a positive impact for NNPC and Nigeria with outstanding achievements that include optimally securing Federation entitlements from production/fiscal arrangements and resolution of various disputes on PSCs. He also successfully managed the Direct Sales and Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement of petroleum products to ensure energy security.
From championing EITI and Open Government Partnership principles, promoting the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act and driving the transition to NNPC Ltd, declaring the Corporation’s first profit in her 44 year history and resolving the decade-long PSC disputes to unlocking the deepwater, introducing cost discipline, rehabilitating ailing refineries and other critical downstream infrastructure, deepening domestic gas utilization, public disclosure of NNPC accounts, the first in the Corporation’s history, Kyari has championed Transparency and Accountability and Performance Excellence. Other achievements include rallying shareholders to take the FID for NLNG Train 7, transforming the Corporation to a world-class organisation and leading concerted efforts in driving environmental policies for cleaner energy.
Aside from being a Fellow of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (FNAPE), Kyari is also Nigeria’s National Representative to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting (OPEC) Economic Commission Board (ECB).

Mr. Wale Ajibade
Executive Director, Sahara Group
11.00: Meeting Africa’s growing Energy Requirements in the evolving global landscape
Wale Ajibade
Mr. Wale Ajibade Biography Wale Ajibade is an Executive director of the Sahara Group with over 20 years of experience in the energy industry.
He commenced his working career in 1992 as a Commercial and Marketing Manager at the then United Commercial Bank Ltd in Lagos Nigeria. He left the bank to become a Co-partner at PABEC ENERGY SUPPORT Ltd; an Oil and Gas company in Lagos Nigeria. In the year 2000, Wale Ajibade joined Sahara Energy Resource Ltd as an operations Manager to head their Abuja operations at the time.
During his career at the Sahara Group, Wale has held different positions from Operations, to Heading Business Development for the Company’s West Africa operations where he was able to drive the company’s activities and hence promote the brand in countries such as Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Gambia, Liberia amongst others.
He then became an Executive Director and co-partner in the organization, where he is currently overseeing Sahara Group’s Oil & Gas International Trade Portfolio which includes Business development and coordination of the crude oil, petroleum products, LPG and LNG trading between the different Sahara locations and other Trading counterparts globally.
Wale Ajibade is also a non-executive director and sits on the Board of West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL); a joint venture company between the NNPC LTD and the Sahara Group, as well as being a Non-Executive Director of First Independent Power Company Limited (FIPL); a power generation company in Southern Nigeria.
Wale Ajibade is on the Board of Societe Ivoirienne de Raffinage (S.I.R) in Ivory Coast and the Societe Africaine de Raffinage (S.A.R) Senegal representing Sahara Group’s interests in both refineries. He is also an Executive Member of the African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA). Wale Ajibade is an alumnus of the University of Lagos where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1991.
He has attended several courses on Oil Trading, LNG trading and Leadership and Management courses in the UK and in the U.S.A. He is also a member of the Ekiti State Government Covid-19 Response Resource Mobilization Committee (RRMC). Wale is an Avid football and sports fan.
Wale Ajibade Biographie Wale Ajibade est Directeur exécutif à Sahara Group avec plus de 20 ans d’expérience dans le secteur de l’énergie.
Il a commencé sa carrière professionnelle en 1992 en tant que directeur commercial et marketing à la United Commercial Bank Ltd à Lagos au Nigeria. Il a quitté la banque pour devenir co-associé chez PABEC ENERGY SUPPORT Ltd; une société pétrolière et gazière à Lagos, au Nigeria. En 2000, Wale Ajibade a rejoint Sahara Energy Resource Ltd en tant que directeur des opérations pour diriger leurs opérations à Abuja à l’époque.
Au cours de sa carrière au sein du groupe Sahara, Wale a occupé différents postes, allant des opérations à la direction du développement commercial pour les opérations de la société en Afrique de l’Ouest, où il a pu diriger les activités de la société et ainsi promouvoir la marque dans des pays tels que le Ghana, la Côte d’Ivoire, le Sénégal, la Guinée, le Libéria, la Sierra Leone, le Cameroun, la Gambie, le Libéria, entre autres.
Il est ensuite devenu directeur exécutif et co-partenaire de l’organisation, où il supervise actuellement le portefeuille de commerce international pétrolier et gazier du groupe Sahara, qui comprend le développement commercial et la coordination du commerce du pétrole brut, des produits pétroliers, du GPL et du GNL entre les différents sites du Sahara et d’autres homologues commerciaux à l’échelle mondiale.
Wale Ajibade est également administrateur non exécutif et siège au conseil d’administration de West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL); une coentreprise entre NNPC LTD et Sahara Group, ainsi qu’un administrateur non exécutif de First Independent Power Company Limited (FIPL); une société de production d’électricité dans le sud du Nigeria.
Wale Ajibade siège au conseil d’administration de la Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (S.I.R) en Côte d’Ivoire et de la Société Africaine de Raffinage (S.A.R) Sénégal représentant les intérêts du Sahara Group dans les deux raffineries. Il est également membre exécutif de l’African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA). Wale Ajibade est un ancien élève de l’Université de Lagos où il a obtenu une licence en économie en 1991.
Il a suivi plusieurs cours sur le négoce du pétrole, le négoce de GNL et des cours de leadership et de gestion au Royaume-Uni et aux États-Unis. Il est également membre du Comité de mobilisation des ressources de réponse au Covid-19 (RRMC) du gouvernement de l’État d’Ekiti. Wale est un passionné de football et de sport.

Mr. Mohammad Altayyar
Program Director, Oil Sustainability Program (OSP)
12.15: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Clean Fuels Solutions and Opportunities for Africa
Mohammad Altayyar
Mohammad Al Tayyar’s career spans more than 20 years in the energy sector. He held multiple technical and leadership roles within Saudi Aramco focused on process engineering, technology development and commercialization, new business development, strategy and joint venture management.
Mohammad is currently the Program Director of the Oil Sustainability Program. A program designed to create new and innovative applications for oil. He is a member of multiple committees within the Ministry of Energy ecosystem and has been focused on the program’s implementation targets.
Mohammad holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University, and a master’s degree in engineering & management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology school of engineering and Sloan school of Management. He is an Eisenhower Fellow.

Mr. Simon Warren
Analyst, Vitol
14.15: Energy Security – The Current State of Play – Global Market trends and potential impacts
Simon Warren
Simon Warren joined Vitol in 2005 as an analyst and has over 25 years’ experience advising on energy markets. He works on Vitol’s macro oil analysis covering both short and long term research. Prior to Vitol he worked at Petroleum Economics Simon holds a degree in economics from Exeter University.

Mrs. Elitsa Georgieva
Executive Director, CITAC
14.15: African Downstream market developments and forecasts
Elitsa Georgieva
Elitsa has over 15 years of experience in the energy sector, with most of them spent focusing on oil and gas markets in Africa. She heads CITAC’s Consulting Services and oversees Data Services. Elitsa has degrees in Economics and Political Science and an M.Litt in Middle East Security from the University of Aberdeen.
She has experience in consulting services and has worked as an oil market fundamentals analyst, refining sector analyst and macroeconomics analyst for ISI Emerging Markets (a Euromoney company), Petroleum Economics Ltd. (PEL) and KBC Process Technology.
Elitsa a plus de 15 ans d’expérience dans le secteur de l’énergie, tout particulièrement aux marchés du pétrole et du gaz en Afrique. Elle dirige les services de conseil de CITAC et supervise les services de données.
Titulaire d’un diplôme en Sciences Politiques et Economiques, et d’une Maîtrise en Politique de la Défense du Moyen Orient de l’Université d’Aberdeen. Elle a travaillé comme analyste du marché fondamental du pétrole, analyste du secteur du raffinage et analyste macroéconomiques pour ISI Emerging Markets (une entreprise Euromoney), Petroleum Economics Ltd. (PEL) et KBC Process Technology.

Mr. NJ Ayuk
Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber
15.00: Panel #1: OPEC-Africa Energy Dialogue – Post COP 27: Ensuring a coordinated, robust intra-African oil & gas industry alongside implementation of energy transition aspirations
NJ Ayuk
NJ Ayuk is founder and CEO of Pan-African corporate law con glomerate, Centurion Law Group; Founder and Executive Chair man of the African Energy Chamber; and author of Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals and co-au thor of Big Barrels: African Oil and Gas and the Quest for Pros perity. He is recognized as one of the foremost figures in African business today.
A Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum, one of Forbes’ Top 10 Most Influential Men in Africa in 2015, and a well-known dealmaker in the petroleum and power sectors, NJ is dedicating his career to helping entrepreneurs find success and to building the careers of young African lawyers.
NJ strives through his work to ensure that business, and especially oil and gas, impacts African societies in a positive way and drives local content development.
NJ graduated from the University of Maryland College Park and earned a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law and an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology.
NJ Ayuk est fondateur et PDG de Pan-African corporate law con glomerate, Centurion Law Group; Fondateur et président exécutif de la Chambre africaine de l’énergie; et auteur de Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals et co-auteur de Big Barrels: African Oil and Gas and the Quest for Prosperity. Il est reconnu comme l’une des figures les plus éminentes des affaires africaines aujourd’hui.
Global Shaper avec le Forum économique mondial, l’un des 10 hommes les plus influents d’Afrique de Forbes en 2015 et un négociateur bien connu dans les secteurs du pétrole et de l’énergie, NJ consacre sa carrière à aider les entrepreneurs à réussir et à construire la carrière de jeunes avocats africains.
NJ s’efforce, par son travail, de veiller à ce que les entreprises, et en particulier le pétrole et le gaz, impactent les sociétés africaines de manière positive et stimulent le développement du contenu local.
NJ est diplômé de l’Université du Maryland College Park et a obtenu un Juris Doctor du William Mitchell College of Law et un MBA du New York Institute of Technology.

Dr. Haris Aliefendic
Senior Research Analyst, Energy Studies Department, OPEC
15.00: Panel #1: OPEC-Africa Energy Dialogue – Post COP 27: Ensuring a coordinated, robust intra-African oil & gas industry alongside implementation of energy transition aspirations
Haris Aliefendic
Dr. Aliefendic joined OPEC in 2016 as Senior Research Analyst in the Energy Studies Department with the main focus on the downstream sector including refining and oil trade.
He is one of the main contributors to the OPEC’s flagship publication World Oil Outlook. Prior to joining OPEC, Dr. Aliefendic held various positions related to energy economics and worked in Corporate Strategy of OMV, as Senior Consultant in Pöyry Management Consulting and as Team Leader in JBC Energy in Vienna.
Dr. Aliefendic graduated from Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien) in business administration and holds a PhD in European Cultural Anthropology from University of Vienna.
M. Aliefendic a rejoint l’OPEP en 2016 en tant qu’analyste de recherche principal au Département des études énergétiques, avec un accent particulier sur le secteur en aval, y compris le raffinage et le commerce du pétrole.
Il est l’un des principaux contributeurs à la publication phare de l’OPEP, World Oil Outlook.Avant de rejoindre l’OPEP, M. Aliefendic a occupé divers postes liés à l’économie de l’énergie et a travaillé dans la stratégie d’entreprise d’OMV, en tant que consultant principal chez Pöyry Management Consulting et en tant que chef d’équipe chez JBC Energy à Vienne.
M. Aliefendic est diplômé de l’Université d’économie et de commerce de Vienne (WU Wien) en administration des affaires et titulaire d’un doctorat en anthropologie culturelle européenne de l’Université de Vienne.

Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim
Secretary General, APPO
15.00: Panel #1: OPEC-Africa Energy Dialogue – Post COP 27: Ensuring a coordinated, robust intra-African oil & gas industry alongside implementation of energy transition aspirations
Omar Farouk Ibrahim
Omar Farouk Ibrahim holds a Doctorate degree in Political Science from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, 1988, a Masters degree from Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, 1983, and a Bachelors degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, 1980.
Dr. Ibrahim assumed the position of APPO Secretary General on 4th January 2020. Until then he was Adviser on International Energy Relations to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In that position he represented Nigeria on the boards of several inter-governmental energy organizations. He was Nigeria’s Governor to the Vienna-based Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, 2015-2020 and Executive Board Member at the Doha-based Gas
Exporting Countries’ Forum, GECF, 2015-2020. At the same time he coordinated Nigeria’s affairs at the International Energy Forum, IEF, and later the African petroleum Producers’ Association, APPA.
Dr. Ibrahim was, between 2010 and 2014, General Manager and later Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
Before joining the NNPC, Dr. Ibrahim spent seven years February 2003 – December 2009 as Head of the PR and Information Department and member of senior management at the OPEC Secretariat, in Vienna. He was the Executive Editor of the OPEC Energy review and Editor-in-Chief of the OPEC Bulletin.
Before venturing into the oil sector in 2003, Dr. Ibrahim was in the media where he was at various times the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Federal Government-owned media house the New Nigerian Newspapers between 1999 and 2003. He was also the chairman of the Board of Directors of Newpack Printing and Packaging Company Limited. Before coming to the New Nigerian, Dr. Farouk had spent nine years in various positions at the Daily Times of Nigeria, ranging from Member of the Editorial board to a columnist and Op-Ed editor, General Manager Nigerpack Press, Group Controller of Administration.
Dr. Farouk joined Bayero University as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Political Science in 1981 after his national service and rose to the rank of Lecturer by the time he left academia for journalism in 1990.
He has a number of publications.
Omar Farouk Ibrahim est titulaire d’un doctorat en sciences politiques de l’Université Rutgers, Nouveau-Brunswick, New Jersey, États-Unis, 1988, d’une maîtrise de l’Université Bayero, Kano, Nigéria, 1983, et d’une licence de l’Université Ahmadu Bello, Zaria, Nigéria, 1980.
Le Dr Ibrahim a assumé le poste de Secrétaire général de l’APPO le 4 janvier 2020. Jusqu’alors, il était Conseiller pour les relations énergétiques internationales auprès du Ministre d’État aux ressources pétrolières de la République fédérale du Nigéria. À ce poste, il a représenté le Nigéria aux conseils d’administration de plusieurs organisations énergétiques intergouvernementales. Il a été gouverneur du Nigeria auprès de l’Organisation des pays exportateurs de pétrole, OPEP, basée à Vienne, de 2015 à 2020 et membre du conseil d’administration de l’organisation du gaz basée à Doha.
Forum des pays exportateurs, GECF, 2015-2020. Dans le même temps, il a coordonné les affaires du Nigeria au Forum international de l’énergie, IEF, et plus tard à l’Association des producteurs de pétrole africains, APPA.
Le Dr Ibrahim a été, entre 2010 et 2014, directeur général, puis directeur général du groupe, division des affaires publiques du groupe, à la Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
Avant de rejoindre la NNPC, le Dr Ibrahim a passé sept ans de février 2003 à décembre 2009 en tant que chef du département des relations publiques et de l’information et membre de la haute direction du secrétariat de l’OPEP, à Vienne. Il a été rédacteur en chef de la revue OPEP Energy et rédacteur en chef du Bulletin de l’OPEP.
Avant de s’aventurer dans le secteur pétrolier en 2003, le Dr Ibrahim a travaillé dans les médias où il a été à plusieurs reprises directeur général/directeur général de la maison de presse appartenant au gouvernement fédéral nigérian The New Nigerian Newspapers entre 1999 et 2003. Il a également été le président du conseil d’administration de Newpack Printing and Packaging Company Limited. Avant de rejoindre le New Nigerian, le Dr Farouk avait occupé divers postes au Daily Times of Nigeria, allant de membre du comité de rédaction à chroniqueur et rédacteur en chef, directeur général de Nigerpack Press, contrôleur administratif du groupe.
Le Dr Farouk a rejoint l’Université Bayero en tant qu’assistant diplômé au Département de science politique en 1981 après son service national et a atteint le rang de maître de conférences au moment où il a quitté le monde universitaire pour le journalisme en 1990.
Il a un certain nombre de publications.

Mrs. Silvia Favasuli
Team Leader, Voluntary Carbon Market, SP Global
16.15: Panel #2: Decarbonising the African Continent – Economic Opportunities and Key Enablers
Silvia Favasuli
Silvia leads the team in charge of pricing and reporting on voluntary carbon credits at S&P Global. Prior to this, she reported on Europe’s gas market.
Silvia holds a masters in Journalism from the University of Milan and is currently studying Economics at Birkbeck University in London.

Mrs. Maryro Mendez
Oil and Refining Research Analyst, Vitol
16.15: Panel #2: Decarbonising the African Continent – Economic Opportunities and Key Enablers
Maryro Mendez
Maryro has over 20 years’ experience in the oil industry. She joined Vitol’s research team in 2020.
Prior to joining Vitol, Maryro was Research Director and Head of Refining & Assets, Global Oils and Natural Gas Liquids at Wood Mackenzie and technical manager at Gunvor Petroleum.
She was a senior process engineer and crude trader for Irving Oil in Canada, having previously been an operations coordinator for both BP and Petroplus.
Maryro holds an M.Eng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, UK.
Maryro a plus de 20 ans d’expérience dans l’industrie pétrolière. Elle a rejoint l’équipe de recherche de Vitol en 2020.
Avant de se joindre à Vitol, Maryro était directrice de la recherche et chef du raffinage et des actifs, Des Pétroles mondiaux et des gaz naturels liquéfiés chez Wood Mackenzie et directrice technique chez Gunvor Petroleum.
Elle a été ingénieure principale des procédés et négociatrice de brut pour Irving Oil au Canada, après avoir été coordonnatrice des opérations pour BP et Petroplus.
Maryro est titulaire d’une maîtrise en génie chimique de l’Université de Birmingham, au Royaume-Uni.

Mr. Ademola Ogunbanjo
Executive Vice President, Oando Clean Energy Ltd
16.15: Panel #2: Decarbonising the African Continent – Economic Opportunities and Key Enablers
Ademola Ogunbanjo
Ademola is currently the Executive Vice President of Oando Clean Energy Ltd., a subsidiary of Oando Plc. He is also an Executive Council member and GM of the Business Support Group at Oando Energy Resources where he provides leadership for the Human Capital Management, Supply Chain Management and Admin Services, IT, Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility, Governance, and Legal departments He has a Certificate in Business, International Relations, and the Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is a scholar of the Said Business School, University of Oxford, and HEC Business School, Paris where he studied Consulting and Coaching for Change. He has a B.Sc. in Urban and Regional Planning from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He trained as an Internal Consultant and Coach at Oxford Management Consulting, UK, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, and a member of the Institute of Directors. A SEC-certified Market Analyst, Ademola holds an Executive Masters Certificate in Project Management from the PM College, London. Ademola is also the CEO of Proviant Integrated Services Limited, a social engineering company with a focus on the Niger Delta region towards the protection of E&P assets. His earlier career included a 4-year stint at the National Bank of Nigeria Limited where he became the pioneer Regional Retail Manager, South-West Region. He worked briefly with MTN’s Sales and Distribution division, and later moved to Vmobile Nigeria (now known as Airtel Nigeria Limited) to assume the role of Strategy Executive, Corporate & SME Segments. Ademola joined Ocean and Oil Holdings (OOH) as Manager, Energy Investments; his role was to deliver on the MSA/TSA between OOH and Oando Plc., covering such functions as Human Resources, Energy Services and Sales & Marketing. He later co-pioneered the startup of an OOH subsidiary, Avaizon Consulting Limited, a Strategy, Execution Management and Business Performance Coaching firm he headed as Chief Executive Officer having previously served as VP, Strategy and Performance Coaching for two years. With core expertise in strategy, execution management, organizational design and development, transaction management, business opportunity assessment, performance management, leadership coaching, etc., Ademola has worked with diverse clients such as the Oando Group, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Cross River, Ondo, Ogun and Kano States of Nigeria, the World Bank, DfID, Airtel Nigeria, Interswitch, BankPHB, The Liberian Government, Triton Aviation, First Bank Plc., and a number of HNIs.

Mr. Abiola Osho
Associate Vice President, AFC
16.15: Panel #2: Decarbonising the African Continent – Economic Opportunities and Key Enablers
Day 2 | Tuesday 14th March

Mr. Olagoke Aluko
Executive Vice President, East & Central Africa, TotalEnergies Marketing & Services
10.00: International Oil Companies (IOCs) and Energy Transition – The Path to Net-Zero
Olagoke Aluko
With 23 years’ experience with TotalEnergies, Olagoke Aluko has gained valuable experience in Management, Operations, HR, Finance, Information systems, and is committed to TotalEnergies’ ambition of being a world-class player in the energy transition, getting to net zero carbon emission by 2050 ‘together with society’. Olagoke joined TotalEnergies in Nigeria as an Internal Auditor in year 2000 after graduating from the London School of Economics (MSc. Accounting & Finance). Since then, he has held several cross-functional positions within the Company across multiple countries.
He was Finance Director in Ethiopia, Jamaica and Guinea Conakry between 2007 & 2012, and then moved to Nigeria as the General Manager HR & Corporate Affairs, and then General Manager Operation between 2012 and 2018. He was then appointed Managing Director of TotalEnergies in Kenya in 2018, a position he held until August 2021 when he moved to the Head Office as Vice President Finance & Corporate Affairs MS Africa. He is currently the Executive Vice-President for East and Central Africa in the Marketing & Services Branch, overseeing 9 countries and 12 subsidiaries.

Mr. Ukoha
Executive Director, NMDPRA
10.45: Panel #3: Africa’s Real Energy Trilemma – Emplacing robust regulatory frameworks to balance the African clean fuels agenda, promote energy security and ensure energy transition

Mr. Abdul Hamid
CEO, NPA
10.45: Panel #3: Africa’s Real Energy Trilemma – Emplacing robust regulatory frameworks to balance the African clean fuels agenda, promote energy security and ensure energy transition
Abdul Hamid
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid is the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority, Ghana. He has been in this role since July 2021. Prior to this appointment, he was the Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development from September 2018 to January 2021, where he initiated schemes to improve upon the economic and social lives of low-income communities. He was also the Minister of Information and Presidential spokesperson from January 2017 to August 2018, as a cabinet minister responsible for all government communications.
Dr Abdul Hamid has initiated and implemented a number of significant reforms in the Ghana Petroleum downstream industry since his appointment. He initiated the repeal and replacement of the NPA Act in order to improve upon regulatory efficiency, he also facilitated the implementation of a Ghanaian content policy for the petroleum downstream industry in Ghana. He has initiated significant reforms to ensure the financial sustainability of the industry in Ghana as well as further deepened international collaborations to promote petroleum product exports from Ghana towards the achievement of the Petroleum Hub Vision of the country.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid is also a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Religion and Human Values at the University of Cape Coast. He has published widely in scholarly journals worldwide. He has a reputation for upholding honesty and integrity in his public life. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree, Master of Philosophy degree and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

Mr. Mohammad Altayyar
Program Director, Oil Sustainability Program (OSP)
10.45: Panel #3: Africa’s Real Energy Trilemma – Emplacing robust regulatory frameworks to balance the African clean fuels agenda, promote energy security and ensure energy transition
Mohammad Altayyar
Mohammad Al Tayyar’s career spans more than 20 years in the energy sector. He held multiple technical and leadership roles within Saudi Aramco focused on process engineering, technology development and commercialization, new business development, strategy and joint venture management.
Mohammad is currently the Program Director of the Oil Sustainability Program. A program designed to create new and innovative applications for oil. He is a member of multiple committees within the Ministry of Energy ecosystem and has been focused on the program’s implementation targets.
Mohammad holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University, and a master’s degree in engineering & management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology school of engineering and Sloan school of Management. He is an Eisenhower Fellow.

Mr. Olivier Jean-Baptiste
MD, OMH
10.45: Panel #3: Africa’s Real Energy Trilemma – Emplacing robust regulatory frameworks to balance the African clean fuels agenda, promote energy security and ensure energy transition
Olivier Jean-Baptiste
Since November 2019 Olivier Jean Baptiste has been appointed by government decree as General Manager of OMH (Office Malgache des Hydrocarbures), Downstream Regulator in Madagascar inside the Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons.
Previously, he spent more than 26 years in private Sector, 3 years at Mobil Oil Cameroon as Lubricants, special products and fuels Engineer, 3 Years as Marketing and Sales Manager in Steel construction company in Madagascar and 20 years at several positions at GALANA Madagascar as LPG & lubricants Manager, Quality Manager, Operations manager, HSEQ…
Basically, Olivier Jean Baptiste is Electrical Engineer graduated from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, Petroleum Engineer gratuated from IFP-School France and has various certificates & trainings as BALANCED SCORE CARD implementation, NEBOSH International Technical Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety, Projects management, Practices of Profitability Studies in the Petroleum Industry, Competition Law and Anti-Competitive Practices and others and has a very strong Skills and expertise.

Ms. Boureima Aïssata Billa Issa Karimou
Director of Regulation of the Hydrocarbons Sector, ARSE
10.45: Panel #3: Africa’s Real Energy Trilemma – Emplacing robust regulatory frameworks to balance the African clean fuels agenda, promote energy security and ensure energy transition
Boureima Aïssata Billa Issa Karimou
Aissa Billa is a petroleum engineer and currently holds the position of Director of Regulation of the Hydrocarbons Sub-Sector Downstream Segment in Niger since 2016 to date.
Previously, she held various positions of responsibility as Director of Transport, Distribution and Petroleum and Para petroleum Services (2010-2012) at the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Then from 2012 to 2015, Director of Refining, Transport and Distribution of Hydrocarbons at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum

Mrs. Maina Kigundu
Executive: Energy & Infrastructure Coverage, Standard Bank
12.15: Panel #4: Financing Infrastructure projects to accelerate Africa’s Energy Transition
Maina Kigundu
Maina has 15 years’ experience in Corporate & Investment Banking in East Africa.
Prior to joining Standard Bank, he spent 9 years working in Citigroup and Barclays in a career spanning corporate relationship management and investment banking (M&A in the power & energy and consumer, healthcare and retail sectors). Before becoming a banker, Maina, an English-trained lawyer, practiced corporate & commercial law for 6 years.
At Standard Bank, Maina has been the head of O&G Coverage, East Africa. Clients have included national oil companies and international energy companies whose activities span across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Maina’s transaction experience in East Africa has involved active participation in the full deal cycle including origination, negotiation, structuring and execution through to completion. Deal experience includes transactions in corporate and project finance, structured trade, and advisory in the downstream, midstream and upstream segments.

Mr. Rene Awambeng
Global Head, Afreximbank
12.15: Panel #4: Financing Infrastructure projects to accelerate Africa’s Energy Transition
Rene Awambeng
Mr. Awambeng joined the African Export-Import Bank in December 2016 as Director Client Relations. He is an experienced international banker, with a successful track record in all aspects of structured trade, commercial and investment banking. He has considerable expertise in structured trade and commodity finance, cross border trade flows, risk management, sales, marketing, customer relationship, project finance, as well as general banking management in both Francophone, Anglophone and Lusophone Africa. He is a regular commentator on current trends in Commodity Trade Finance, Regional business, African Trade and Infrastructure Development at international banking conferences and seminars.
Prior to joining Afreximbank, Mr. Awambeng worked for 4 years as the Group Head of Global Corporates, Regional Corporates, and Commodity Finance, Corporate & Investment Bank, Ecobank Transnational Inc. based in Paris, France and Lagos, Nigeria and London. Prior to this, he was Executive Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Rwanda for 2 years and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Democratic Republic of Congo for 2 years.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Yaoundé, Cameroon and an MBA from University of Nottingham Business School, Nottingham, UK. He is a member of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), London, UK.

Mr. Shayo Olumide
Senior Investment Associate, AFC
12.15: Panel #4: Financing Infrastructure projects to accelerate Africa’s Energy Transition
Shayo Olumide
Shayo Olumide is an investment professional with over 10 years of experience structuring investments in excess of US$4 billion in large scale oil & gas, industrial and telecommunication projects. He is currently working in the Heavy Industry, Telecommunication & Technology sector at the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), where he is responsible for developing the firm’s pipeline across the African continent, assessing the financial viability of transactions and structuring the transactions to ensure their bankability. Prior to joining AFC, Shayo was at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) where he worked in the Oil & Gas Support Services desk and was responsible for growing the organization’s multinational company portfolio and develop new products to enhance client experience with the bank. He has experience in project finance, corporate finance, principal equity investments and trade finance.
Shayo Olumide is an alumnus of Imperial College London and Newcastle University where he studied Geology and International Finance respectively graduating with honors.

Mr. Peter J. George
Co-Investment Director, Spark+ Africa Fund (advised by Enabling Qapital)
12.15: Panel #4: Financing Infrastructure projects to accelerate Africa’s Energy Transition
Peter George
Peter George structured, fundraised, and co-manages Spark+ Africa Fund, a $54 million impact fund investing across the value chains of clean and modern cooking energy solutions including LPG, ethanol, biomass, biogas, and electric appliances. The fund is advised by Swiss investment advisory firm Enabling Qapital. Prior to launching Spark+, he was most recently Senior Director, Private Sector and Investment at the United Nations Foundation’s Clean Cooking Alliance.
Peter’s 17-year career in the renewable and traditional energy sectors spans advisory and principal investing roles in impact investment, development finance, and private sector development in frontier markets, as well as bulge-bracket investment banking with Merrill Lynch, and project finance and private equity with one of the world’s largest energy-focused private equity firms ArcLight Capital Partners.

Mr. Fadi Mitri
Head of Africa, Puma Energy
14.30: The Energy Security Trinity
Fadi Mitri
Fadi Mitri was appointed Head of Africa at Puma Energy on September 30, 2021. He is responsible for leading Puma Energy’s Retail, Lubricants, Supply, Wholesale and B2B Commercial businesses in more than 15 countries across Africa.
Fadi joined the Trafigura Group – which is the majority shareholder of Puma Energy – in 2017 as Head of Business Development for LNG and Gas. The Group is one of the world’s largest physical commodities trading groups, sourcing, storing, transporting and delivering a range of raw materials (including oil and refined products, metals and minerals) to clients across the globe, and has recently established a power and renewables business division.
Prior to joining Trafigura, Fadi worked for Royal Dutch Shell for 12 years in Austria, Dubai, Finland and the Netherlands in a variety of roles. These included Lubricants Supply Chain, Management, Government Relations, and Mergers & Acquisitions. In 2012, he moved to Shell’s LNG division and worked across Europe, Africa and Latin America.
Fadi holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Bath as well as a Master’s in Political Science from the College of Europe. Fadi lives with his wife and three children in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mr. Venasan Pillay
Senior Consultant for Low Carbon Energy with Advisian
15.15: Panel #5: Carbon Abatement Projects as a Path to Generating Carbon Credits: The SIR Example
Venasan Pillay
Educated at Master’s degree level in Chemical Engineering, Venasan has built up 18 years of industry, consulting and corporate experience as an Oil and Energy professional with leading global energy and consulting/advisory companies such as Chevron, Deloitte and Advisian.
His early career started off at the Cape Town refinery, where he had direct exposure and input into the hydrocarbon fuels manufacturing process providing monitoring, troubleshooting and optimisation technical support across various process unit technologies including utilities, sulphur treating, hydroprocessing and reforming.
He has led and worked on several complex projects across the downstream fuels value chain during his career. The most recent of which was to lead the development of a refinery decarbonisation strategy for a major downstream fuels company in South Africa.
His current role is as a Senior Consultant for Low Carbon Energy with Advisian with a current area of focus being the energy transition and assisting clients to navigate the consequent emerging challenges & opportunities across industries.

Mr. Michael Curran
Head of Emissions Trading, Vitol
15.15: Panel #5: Carbon Abatement Projects as a Path to Generating Carbon Credits: The SIR Example
Michael Curran
Head of Emissions Trading
Vitol
Michael Curran joined Vitol in 2007 to establish its carbon trading desk and is head of emissions trading. Previously he held various trading positions at Cargill across the company’s energy and sugar business. Curran holds a degree in PPE from Oxford University and an Executive MBA from Aix-Marseille Graduate School of Management.

Mr. Raphaël Souanga
Development and Energy Transition Director, SIT
15.15: Panel #5: Carbon Abatement Projects as a Path to Generating Carbon Credits: The SIR Example
Raphaël Souanga
Raphaël SOUANGA KOUAME a commencé sa carrière professionnelle à la SIR en 1995. Après avoir occupé différents postes d’Ingénieur, de Chefs de Service et de Chefs de Département dans les domaines Technique et Production, il devient Directeur Technique et Stratégie de la SIR en 2019, poste qu’il occupera jusqu’à fin 2022. En 2023, Il dévient Directeur Développement et Transition Energétique de la SIR. Raphaël SOUANGA KOUAME est diplômé de l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure du Pétrole et des Moteurs (France) et de l’Ecole Polytechnique de Yamoussoukro. Il totalise actuellement 27 ans de service à la SIR.

Mr. Lance Fogtman
VP Product Stategy, Ion Commodities
15.15: Panel #5: Carbon Abatement Projects as a Path to Generating Carbon Credits: The SIR Example
Lance Fogtman
Lance is a seasoned commodities industry professional spanning three decades delivering optimization, technology solutions, and advisory. Lance is keenly focused on the natural commodity market evolution that’s leading to energy transition, data revolution, and digitization. He is driving these changes, while uniquely positioned with leading commodity solutions from ION Commodities.
Lance has been with ION by way of TriplePoint from 2006, working in many different roles across Professional Services, product management, and strategy. He is now the business owner of the Aspect product line and continues to serve in the commodities product strategy. He has delivered solutions spanning all commodities, industries, and to customers of all sizes from across the globe.
Before joining ION, Lance worked for other energy and commodity trading companies including Dynegy, ConocoPhillips, Koch, Duke Energy, and Williams. He also gained strong experience with the oil majors and services companies such as Shell, BP, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, and Cooper Cameron.
Day 3 | Wednesday 15th March

Mrs. Andrea Abrahams
Managing Director at IETA focusing on voluntary carbon markets
10.00: The role of the Midstream and Downstream sectors in delivering the African Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI)
Andrea Abrahams
Independent Advisor and MD Voluntary Carbon Markets at the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)www.linkedin.com/in/meetandreaabrahams
Andrea is managing director of Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) at the IETA where she manages the VCM policy and advocacy, the ICROA Accreditation Programme, and supports the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). She has also recently been appointed as an independent member of the Investment Committee for Climate Asset Management’s Nature Based Carbon Fund.
Further, Andrea works an independent advisor to support companies with their net zero strategies. Pro bono work includes mentorship for the Creative Destruction Lab (Oxford University chapter), a start-up accelerator.
Previously Andrea worked for bp as the Director Energy Transition where she played a central role in developing and driving bp’s net zero ambition. This included supporting the Downstream executive and bp main board in defining decarbonising pathways to achieve net zero, understanding climate risks, reporting (ESG) and implementing targets. Driving the energy transition, Andrea established cross-business governance, performance management and GHG measurement processes.
As head of bp Target Neutral, Andrea led a world-class voluntary carbon market programme developing carbon reduction and offsetting programmes for bp and its customers. Working with NGOs and industry associations, her team developed many industry firsts including offsetting programmes for the London Olympics & Paralympics and FIFA Brazil World cup.
Previously Andrea was instrumental in setting up bp’s Strategic Partnering business establishing 20 global strategic collaborations with many of the world’s largest corporations.

Mrs. Marietta Harjono
Inspector-General, Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT)
10.45: Cleaner Vehicle Emissions – An Essential Path to reduce Air Pollution
Marietta Harjono
Marietta Harjono is a coordinating specialist for the Netherlands Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) which is part of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
Since 2017, she has been involved in ILTs research and publication on the quality of on-road fuels blended in the Netherlands destined for West Africa. She led the ILT project on reviewing the quality of used vehicles exported to African countries and author of the report that was published in 2020.
She is currency involved in the follow up on the three different reports ILT has published on fuels and used vehicles. Besides this she is engaged in research and implementation of the EU regulation on Due Diligence obligations for EU importers of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold requiring companies to ensure they import minerals and metals from responsible sources only.
Prior to joining the ILT She worked as a freelance researcher and project leader on environmental topics.
She hold a Master’s degree in Human Geography from the University of Amsterdam and a Bachelor’s degree on Environmental Science.

Mr. Daouda Kebe
Technical Director, SAR Senegal
12.00: Panel #6: Spotlight on African Downstream Projects – Highlighting Refinery Investments for Energy Security
Daouda Kebe
Basically, Daouda Kebe is an Industrial Chemistry Engineer/Process Engineering at the Algerian Petroleum Institute. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the refining oil industry and had many position in the refinery SAR where currently, he is the Technical Director at the African Refining Society (SAR) in Dakar, Senegal.
He is also the ARDA Leader of the work group Refining and specifications.

Mr. Joaquim Kiteculo
Head of Sonangol’s Business
12.00: Panel #6: Spotlight on African Downstream Projects – Highlighting Refinery Investments for Energy Security
Joaquim Kiteculo
● 2019 – Presente – Chairman of the Executive Committee of Sonangol Refining and Pretrochemical
● 2016 – 2019 – Director of Major Capital Projects Division (DGPE) Sonangol E.P
● 2013 – 2019- Director of Engineering and Project Division (DEP) Sonangol Logistics
● 2010 – 2013 – Director of Engineering Division (DENG) Sonangol E.P
● 2010 – 2012 – Project Manager of Luanda Refinery Expansion
● 2004 – 2010 – Head of Department of Project Studies and Development , Engineering Division (DENG) – Sonangol E.P
● 2004 – 2009 – Technical Project Coordinator– PP14 Program to revamp the existing Sonangol Storage Facilities Across the Country
● 2003 – 2010 – Project Manager of ESSA – Sonangol Training Centre – Construction Projects of ESSA’s Development Master Plan – Sonangol E.P
● 2000 – 2004 – Head of Mechanical and Electrical Section , Engineering Division (DENG) – Sonangol E.P
● 2000- 2002 – Project Manager of LPG Gas Plant Expansion Project at ICPN, Engineering Division (DENG) – Sonangol E.P
● 1999- 2000 – Deputy Project Manager of LPG Gas Plant Expansion Project at ICPN – Luanda
● 1997- 1999 – Mechanical Engineer of the Soyo Tank Farm Rehabilitation and Expansion Sonangol Project , Studies and Projects Division (DEP)- Sonangol, U.E.E
● 1993 – 1997 – Junior Mechanical Engineer – Studies and Projects Division (DEP)-Sonangol, U.E.E.
● 1988 – 1990 – Applied Mechanics and Material Resistance Professor – Professor’s Assistant of Design of Mechanical Elements at Karl Marx Institute – Makarenco, Luanda

Dr. Michael Mugerwa
General Manager, UNOC
12.00: Panel #6: Spotlight on African Downstream Projects – Highlighting Refinery Investments for Energy Security
Michael Mugerwa
Dr. Michael Nkambo Mugerwa, PhD CEng CSci FIChemE MUIPE
General Manager, Uganda Refinery Holding Company Ltd.
Eng. Dr. Mugerwa is a Chemical Engineer, with over 34 years of technical and management experience in the global oil, gas and renewable energy industries. His areas of expertise include executive leadership, ESG, process engineering, project management, project controls, procurement, safety, oil refinery technologies, fuel cell systems, and geothermal power projects.
Eng. Dr. Mugerwa’s current responsibility is program management on behalf of the State of the 60,000 bpd Uganda Refinery Project, as well as overseeing the development, operationalization and management of the Kabaale Petro-based Industrial Park in the Albertine Graben of Uganda.
He gained his Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Manchester, UK. He has worked for the global engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors, Technip and Jacobs Engineering, from locations in The Netherlands, Italy, Canada and the USA. He joined the Uganda National Oil Company in early 2017.

Mr. Raphaël Souanga
Development and Energy Transition Director, SIR
12.00: Panel #6: Spotlight on African Downstream Projects – Highlighting Refinery Investments for Energy Security

Engr. Yemi Adetunji
Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC Limited
12.00: Panel #6: Spotlight on African Downstream Projects – Highlighting Refinery Investments for Energy Security

Mr. Dimitrios Dendroulakis
Regional Sales Manager, EMEA Axens
14.15: Panel #7: Key Enablers for a Just Energy Transition – The Technology Imperative
Dimitrios Dendroulakis
Dimitrios studied Chemical Engineering in Greece and specialized in Refining and Petrochemicals at IFP School near Paris, France. He joined Axens in 2008 as a Process Engineer and was initially involved in R&D projects at IFP Energies Nouvelles’ research center near Lyon, France. He then joined Axens’ Technology group focusing in process technologies that upgrade and convert the bottom of the barrel. Since 2018, Dimitrios is in charge of Axens’ Licensing and Products Sales for Sub-Saharan Africa and Western Europe.

Mr. Derek Bultitude
Regional Leader Sub-Saharan Africa, Honeywell
14.15: Panel #7: Key Enablers for a Just Energy Transition – The Technology Imperative
Derek Bultitude
Derek Bultitude is the Honeywell UOP Regional Leader for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Derek joined Honeywell UOP in 2014 and is based in South Africa. Derek has 33 years’ experience in Oil Refining covering a wide range of areas including strategic planning, crude and product trading operations, technology licensing, catalyst sales, LP modelling, sustainable technology refinery configuration and profit improvement.
Derek holds a MEng and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Nottingham University, United Kingdom and an MBA from Henley Management College.
For over 100 years, Honeywell UOP has been a leader in developing and commercializing technology for the oil refining, petrochemical, gas processing and hydrogen industries. UOP’s principal products offered to these industries are licensed technologies and processes, catalysts, molecular sieve adsorbents, and packaged plants and key mechanical equipment.
UOP continues to innovate to create flexible, future-forward, and sustainable solutions that address the challenges of our everchanging world. We’re striving to create cleaner fuels by developing processes that reduce emissions and produce renewable fuel sources. Our Honeywell Green Diesel™ and Honeywell Green Jet Fuel™ require no changes to engines or fuel infrastructure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than two-thirds.

Dr. Jiri Rus
Sales Director Africa, Neuman & Esser Deutschland GmbH
14.15: Panel #7: Key Enablers for a Just Energy Transition – The Technology Imperative
Jiri Rus
Jiri Rus is a Sales Director and Business Development Manager Africa at Neuman & Esser. He studied mechanical engineering and PhD at Technical Univerzity in Czech Republic focusing on thermal heat exchanges. The MBA studies at Hallam Shefield University complemented his strong technical education also by managerial and business perspective.
More than 20 years ago, he started to work in a segment of reciprocating compressors in both sales of new systems as well as on after-market. He started as a project manager and design engineer and by time moved more to the sales as appreciating the work with end users of their products. He developed during those years several markets, large key accounts and worked on many large projects. And this is what make him fun and see it as his mission.
Having these preconditions, passion to new developments and being in love to Africa – his main task came at Neuman & Esser – to develop markets in Africa. The energy transition, where reciprocating compressors are the same importance like in traditional Oil & Gas, took him also to the segment of renewables.

Mr. Emmanuel Omuojine
Executive Director, Rainol
15.30: Panel #8: The Future of Cleaner fuels: LPG, Biofuels and other sustainable fuels integration for energy security
Emmanuel Omuojine
Emmanuel is a certified Strategic Management professional, Project Management Professional, a Six Sigma Green Belt, and a Chartered Accountant.
He is an Executive Director at Rainoil Limited where he has led the Group Strategy and Business Development function since 2014. He has been responsible for driving corporate strategic direction; business processes, controls and overseeing capital projects. Emmanuel has been instrumental in growing the Rainoil group into a leading downstream energy company in Nigeria. He also sits on the Board of Eterna Plc. as a Non-Executive Director.
Prior to joining Rainoil Limited, Emmanuel spent 9 years with the professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria, where he rose to the position of Manager in the Strategy & Operations Advisory practice. He has supported clients within the Oil & Gas, Financial Services and Telecoms industry, with business transformation projects covering Business Strategy Formulation and Validation, Business Process Review, Organisational Design, Quality Management System Implementation, Risk Management, Internal Control Framework Design and Review.
He is also a team leader at Harvesters International Christian Centre, located in Lagos, Nigeria. Emmanuel is married with two children. He is an avid reader and enjoys playing lawn tennis and chess.

Mr. David Appleton
VP LPG, Argus Media
15.30: Panel #8: The Future of Cleaner fuels: LPG, Biofuels and other sustainable fuels integration for energy security
David Appleton
David Appleton is Vice President for LPG at Argus, responsible for Argus’ LPG activities in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to that he had a similar role for Asia-Pacific, and was previously also editor of various LPG publications including the Argus LPG Outlook, Analytics, and the Statistical Review of Global LPG which is published jointly each year with the World LPG Association. Before joining Argus in 2015, David spent six years at the European LPG Association, defending and promoting the interests of the sector. He holds degrees in Politics, economics, and international development, and is based in London at Argus’ global headquarters.

Mr. Philippe Hoeblich
CEO, Paygas Africa
15.30: Panel #8: The Future of Cleaner fuels: LPG, Biofuels and other sustainable fuels integration for energy security
Philippe Hoeblich
Philippe is the Co-Founder and CEO of PayGas a French-South African start-up that pledges to supply affordable clean cooking gas to millions of low-income homes in Africa.
PayGas is an energy tech start-up that provides clean cooking gas (LPG) for low-income customers inside townships/slums through a patented cashless refilling technology.
PayGas allows customers to refill their cylinders with the gas quantity they can afford, starting from 0.5 USD: PAY AS YOU GAS™.
Philippe has won major awards for its disruptive technology in the gas industry, and as key actor of the Smart Cities and sustainability for the City of Cape Town, including:
- ENGIE Clean Cooking Challenge Award 2019
- WESGRO (Western Cape Awards: ‘Smart Cities & Sustainability 2019/2020 Award’
- ‘Entrepreneur of the Year 2019/2020’
For 12 years prior to founding PayGas, Philippe worked for COFACE (Cameroon, South Africa, Morocco and Paris), a multi-national credit insurance company, covering 25 African countries.
Philippe holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD, with expertise in Bottom of the Pyramid Strategy.
He is the President of the INSEAD Alumni Association in South Africa (843 south African Alumni members).

Mr. Kimball Chen
Chairman of the Global LPG Partnership
15.30: Panel #8: The Future of Cleaner fuels: LPG, Biofuels and other sustainable fuels integration for energy security
Kimball Chen
KEY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
- Kimball Chen is, since 2012, the CEO of GLOBAL LPG PARTNERSHIP (GLPGP), the UN-backed Public Private: Partnership mandated to assist developing countries and international institutions to plan, finance and implement LPG sector development at scale.
- Kimball Chen has a very rich career :
- President 2012-2015, Board Director, 2000-2015 : WORLD LPG ASSOCIATION (WLPGA), the global voice of the LPG industry
- FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION (FSC), the economic development bank of New York City: – Board Director, lead of Board Credit Approval Committee, 1986-1991
- ENERGY TRANSPORTATION GROUP (ETG), holdings in LNG and LPG, high technology : Chairman, CEO, 1994-present and before Vice Chairman, 1978-1994
- ADVISOR TO GOVERNMENTS, strategic advisor on LNG and LPG to the US, China, Argentina, Romania, Turkey, Portugal, Lithuania, Pakistan, etc.
EDUCATION:
- Harvard University B.A. magna cum laude, 1973
- Harvard Business School MBA, 1978

Mr. Simbarashe Mudimbu
Senior Manager for Private Sector & Investment, Clean Cooking Alliance
15.30: Panel #8: The Future of Cleaner fuels: LPG, Biofuels and other sustainable fuels integration for energy security
Simbarashe Mudimbu
Bio Simbarashe Mudimbu, Senior Portfolio Manager, Venture Programs, Clean Cooking Alliance
Simba works within the Market Strengthening program at the Clean Cooking Alliance, a Washington DC-based public-private partnership, which is working to grow an industry around clean, sustainable household energy solutions for cooking throughout the developing world. Simba’s work focuses on venture facing initiatives that provide support to clean cooking enterprises across various technologies and fuels. The objective of CCA’s venture programs is to back the emergence of scalable businesses capable of delivering affordable, appropriate, high-quality clean cooking solutions that attract more investment into the clean cooking sector.
Simba’s work experience includes various roles the banking, management consulting, and impact investing sectors over the last 14 years. He holds an MPhil in Development Finance (Cum Laude) from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, an MSc in Finance from Manchester Business School, and a bachelor’s degree in International Business, Finance and Economics from the University of Manchester in the UK. He is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mr. Tarik Berair
Business Development and Sales Manager, TechnipEnergies
16.30: Panel #9: World-Class Project Execution – Role of EPCs in Africa’s decarbonization agenda
Tarik Berair
Tarik Berair, Business Development and Sales Manager, TechnipEnergies
Tarik joined Technip Energies in 2005 serving as a Lead and Expert Civil and Structural Engineer, Tarik was involved in various Oil & Gas projects in Qatar, Australia, Russia and Africa. In 2014 he moved into a Proposal Manager role and since 2017 he is a Business Development and Sales in Africa overseeing opportunities in conventional Oil & Gas markets and new Energy Transition markets with an acute interest for energy transition and green hydrogen projects across the continent.
He holds a master’s degree in Structural/Earthquake engineering from Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal.

Mr. Gwendal Mostert
GM Cameroon branch, Parlym
16.30: Panel #9: World-Class Project Execution – Role of EPCs in Africa’s decarbonization agenda
Gwendal Mostert
« Gwendal MOSTERT est diplômé de l’université d’Aix-en-Provence en droit des affaires et de KEDGE BUSINESS SCHOOL en commerce et logistique internationale. Il s’est spécialisé dans le secteur de l’Oil and Gas, via ses recherches et la réalisation de sa thèse professionnelle sur le sujet de la crise de l’oil and gas 2014, avec accent sur l’offshore et un périmètre allant de l’exploration jusqu’à la production.
Il démarre sa carrière dans la logistique pétrolière offshore, chez le leader mondial des services maritimes à l’offshore pétrolier BOURBON, avant de rejoindre le groupe PARLYM en 2019 comme ingénieur projet. Basé d’abord à Abidjan, il travaille sur des projets EPC ou EPCm de déplacement de pipelines sur les berges du canal de Vridi puis sur la construction d’une sphère GPL de 4000 mètres cubes au TPAV de Gestoci. Gwendal est ensuite affecté à Douala, Cameroun en Octobre 2020, et prends la direction générale de la filiale PARLYM Cameroun en Août 2021. Il pilote ainsi les grands projets de la filiale, pipelines, réservoirs, projets d’instrumentation et d’automatisme. Enfin, il met en place un accord de partenariat technique et commercial avec le groupe EMERSON sur le territoire Camerounais. »

Mr. Tomi Osho
Head of Business Development – West and Central Africa, Honeywell
16.30: Panel #9: World-Class Project Execution – Role of EPCs in Africa’s decarbonization agenda
Tomi Osho
Tomi Osho is the Honeywell UOP Business Development Head for West/Central Africa.
Tomi joined Honeywell UOP in 2005 and is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Tomi has 17 years’ experience in Oil Refining and Petrochemical covering a wide range of areas including, design engineering, technical services and technology licensing sales.
Tomi holds a MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham United Kingdom.
For over 100 years, Honeywell UOP has been a leader in developing and commercializing technology for the oil refining, petrochemical, gas processing and hydrogen industries. UOP’s principal products offered to these industries are licensed technologies and processes, catalysts, molecular sieve adsorbents, and packaged plants and key mechanical equipment.
UOP continues to innovate to create flexible, future-forward, and sustainable solutions that address the challenges of our everchanging world. We’re striving to create cleaner fuels by developing processes that reduce emissions and produce renewable fuel sources. Our Honeywell Green Diesel™ and Honeywell Green Jet Fuel™ require no changes to engines or fuel infrastructure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than two-thirds.