Company Announcement - Several industry experts and leaders in the petrochemicals industry have been announced as part of the speaker line-up for the upcoming Petro.t.ex Conference. A major mid- and down-stream event focused on showcasing products, services and business opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Petro.t.ex Africa Conference and Expo is a component of the multi-sector South African Industry and Technology Fair which takes place at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand from 20-22 May 2015.

“The Petro.t.ex Exhibition and Conference is a key opportunity for industry leaders, government and interested parties to examine and discuss the latest trends in equipment, policy and services related issues - all under a single and convenient banner,” explains Bette McNaughton, organiser of the Conference.

The high-level speaker line-up includes Godfrey Pangeti, CEO of Sharpshell Industrial Solutions; Nobuzwe Mbuyisa, Chairperson of Chevron SA and Bakang Moeketsi, recently appointed a Director of the South African Petroleum Retailers’ Association. The keynote speaker at the opening of the conference is Avhapfani Tshifularo, Executive Director of the South African Petroleum Industry Association.

“This year’s conference will focus on major upcoming projects and also examine the various issues and challenges facing the industry today,” McNaughton says. “For example, 65% of South Africa’s refining industry is located at coastal installations, and 35% is based inland, despite the fact that 60% of fuel production is consumed inland. This presents a distribution imbalance which needs to be addressed. Peter Morgan, Director of the Liquid Fuel Wholesalers Association, will discuss potential changes to the wholesale fuel industry.”

Biogas – Clean, Renewable Energy

Biogas is a cost-effective and clean source of renewable energy. Waste dumps as well as human and animal waste release methane that can be harvested as biogas fuel which converts to carbon dioxide after combustion. This CO2 is in turn absorbed by plants during photosynthesis to reduce greenhouse gasses and produce oxygen.

“The current energy crisis in South Africa has many people in urban areas with unreliable access to electricity,” explains John Thomson of Exhibition Management Services, organisers of INDUTEC. “Jason Grifford, of the Southern African Biogas Industry Association Steering Committee, will discuss alternative fuels such as biogas at the Conference.”

Other topics to be covered include:

•The overall status of the liquid fuel industry - Avhapfani Tshifularo: Executive Director of SAPIA

•The role of independent storage suppliers, by Muziwandile Mseleku - Burgan

•Promoting and protecting the interests of fuel retailers, by Bakang Moeketsi: South African Petroleum Retailers Association

•A top level debate on the ‘Outlook on the Fuel Industry through Scenario Planning’, which includes representatives from Chevron, Shell and BP.

For more information on the conference contact Bette McNaughton:

Tel +27 (0)11 234 1196 – Email: bettemc@ingadaevents.co.za