As the global transition towards cleaner energy accelerates, ARDA’s Workgroups continue to play a vital role in helping Africa’s downstream energy sector adapt and thrive.

These collaborative platforms unite industry stakeholders to develop coherent strategies that shape policy, strengthen resilience, and promote long-term sustainability across the continent.

ARDA currently operates seven dedicated Workgroups, organised into two categories based on their core functions. The Technical Workgroups – Storage & Distribution, QHSE, LPG, and Refining & Specifications – focus on operational and infrastructure-related aspects of the downstream sector. Meanwhile, the Support Workgroups – Regulation, Human Capital, and Sustainable Financing – address the broader policy, talent, and funding frameworks needed to enable and sustain Africa’s energy transition.

Throughout the year, ARDA Workgroups hold regular virtual meetings, chaired by Workgroup leaders who are both representatives of ARDA member organisations and experienced experts in their respective fields. To reinforce and deepen this ongoing collaboration, ARDA also organises two annual in-person workshop events – dedicated to the Technical and Support Workgroups respectively.

The first of these events, the ARDA Technical Workgroups Workshop, takes place from 21–22 May in Dakar, Senegal. This will be followed next month by the ARDA Support Workgroups Workshop, scheduled for 24–26 June in Accra, Ghana.

How Do Members Engage with Workgroups?

One of ARDA’s key strengths lies in the way its Workgroups ensure consistent and meaningful interaction between its members. Daouda Kébé, Executive Director of Operations at Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR) and leader of the ARDA Refining & Specifications Workgroup, explained how this engagement works in practice:

“We have local representatives in each member organisation, and these representatives report topics of interest, which we address in coordination with the ARDA team. Through the issues that are raised, we’re able to capture the interest of members and sometimes translate that into workshops or meetings. It’s important to note that we hold regular meetings—at least once a week—which help maintain engagement and momentum among the members.”

These regular touchpoints ensure that ARDA Workgroups remain dynamic, relevant, and responsive to member needs across the continent.

The Strategic Impact of ARDA’s Workgroups

ARDA’s Workgroups not only provide a platform for dialogue – they are also delivering tangible impact in the African downstream energy sector. Mr Emmanuel Omuojine, Managing Director of Rainoil Ltd and leader of the ARDA LPG Workgroup, highlighted both the strategic and practical benefits that members enjoy:

“The workgroups are a good tool for engaging members and getting added value for each member.”

He went on to point to the concrete results being achieved, particularly in support of the clean cooking agenda:

“Over the past two years, I’ve seen quite a bit of engagement among members. We’ve seen initiatives with the payment systems, penetration to more rural areas, getting to the final end users and assisting with conversion. So, there’s been a very strong agenda for promoting clean cooking through the LPG Workgroup.”

Such initiatives clearly demonstrate how ARDA Workgroups serve as engines of progress – driving innovation, enabling collaboration, and advancing key public policy goals.

Another critical area of impact is the improvement of technical, logistical, and safety standards across the downstream sector. Mrs Lidia Neyer, Commercial and Projects Director at SOGARA and leader of the ARDA Regulation Workgroup, emphasised the value of shared learning:

“We learn a lot from accidents or near-misses that occur at other sites. ARDA is a fantastic platform for this because we speak among professionals and understand the physical realities of the sites. Sometimes, we also realise that a near-miss results from a chain of events that seems completely normal within the operational sequence. In this respect, ARDA truly allows for the exchange of best practices between experts across different specialties.”

This culture of open exchange enables members to benefit from one another’s experiences and insights, reinforcing ARDA’s role as a knowledge-sharing hub for the industry.

Join the ARDA Community

Whether your focus is on technical excellence, regulatory alignment, clean energy access, or operational safety, ARDA Workgroups offer a unique and valuable space for African downstream energy professionals to collaborate, learn, and lead the sector into a more sustainable future.

Mrs Neyer issued a clear invitation to professionals across the sector to consider joining the association and engage with ARDA’s Workgroups to help shape the future of Africa’s downstream energy industry:

“It’s an incredible platform for exchange. This is the main reason why all players in the downstream oil sector who haven’t yet joined should become part of it.”

If you have any questions about ARDA or would like to discuss membership for your organisation, please contact our team at info@afrra.org.

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About ARDA

The African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA) is a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the sustainable development of Africa’s energy sector. The mission of our community is to promote collaboration among industry stakeholders, foster innovation, and drive investment to address Africa’s energy challenges. Through its work, ARDA aims to help unlock the continent’s energy potential, reduce energy poverty, and support Africa’s economic growth.

For all press enquiries, please contact: media@afrra.org

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