Company Announcement - Africa’s petroleum and petrochemical industry faces many challenges, including climate change issues, fuel security and the falling oil price. These will be addressed at the upcoming Petro.t.ex Conference and Exhibition, a major mid- and down-stream event focused on showcasing products, services and business opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Petro.t.ex Africa is a component of the multi-sector South African Industry & Technology Fair, and takes place at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand from 20-22 May 2015.

“The key focus of the conference are the updates for the liquid fuel and downstream industry,” says organiser Bette McNaughton. “It will also cover numerous current topics such as the overall status of the liquid fuel industry in South Africa, climate change, alternative fuels, and the revised Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Codes for the retail fuel market.”

State of SA’s Oil Industry

About 95% of South Africa’s crude oil demand is met by imports from the Middle East and Africa. However, with estimated reserves of over nine billion barrels of oil beneath South Africa’s coastlines, many drilling and business opportunities exist, which could also give the country some small measure of independence from imports.

Avhapfani Tshifularo, Executive Director of the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA), describes the current state of the oil industry as ‘resilient’, but with a constant need to adapt. He will deliver the opening keynote address on The Overall Status of the Liquid Fuel Industry in South Africa.

“Oil is a strategic asset and key to South Africa’s growth; the rapid fall of the oil price – from over $100 to just over $50 per barrel – does affect the industry, but we need to be flexible to continue to function. The Petro.t.ex conference will play a major role in informing the industry about these changes and provide a vital platform for discussion,” says Tshifularo.

The Who and What of the Petro.t.ex Conference

Implications of the Revised BBBEE Codes for the retail market will be presented by Bakang Moeketsi, CEO of the South African Petroleum Retailers’ Association.  “The promotion of broad-based black economic empowerment is a primary objective, as is the need to achieve a globally competitive mining industry that benefits all South Africans,” says Moeketsi. “The revised Codes combine management control and employment equity into one element, as does preferential procurement and enterprise development, thus reducing Scorecard elements from seven to five.”

Dr Rod Crompton from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa will discuss fuel security and the hi-jacking of tankers. Truck hijackings have increased by 10% to over 1 200 incidents last year, costing the road freight industry about R1.2 billion. The effects of the falling oil price on the economy will be discussed by Carmen Nel, an economist at Rand Merchant Bank. Another important topic is alternative fuels, presented by Jason Gifford from the steering committee of the Southern African Biogas Industry Association. Alternative fuels include biodiesel, electric vehicles, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and hydrogen.

Other topics for discussion include:

• Clean fuels and maximising sustainable development opportunities, presented by Professor Jim Petrie, Director of Energy and Green Economy from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism of the Western Cape Government
• Climate Change presented by Deborah Ramalope, Chief Director: Climate Change Mitigation
• The role of independent storage suppliers presented by Muziwandile Mseleku, CEO of Burgan

For more information on the conference contact Bette McNaughton:

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

For more information on Petro.t.ex contact Serean at Exhibition Management Services.

Tel+27 (0)11 783-7250.

Fax +27 (0)11 783-7269.

E-mail: marketing@exhibitionsafrica.com

Website:www.exhibitionsafrica.com

About Petro.t.ex

Petro.t.ex showcases new developments, projects, technologies and innovations, market trends and challenges facing the petroleum industry in Southern Africa. This biennial event provides a powerful networking platform for the ‘Who’s Who’ of the downstream petroleum industry.

The event attracts a wide range of exhibitors, visitors and delegates including senior management from leading oil companies, refinery operators, government representatives, NGOs, fuel wholesalers and retailers, consultants, industry associations, engineers, project leaders, financiers and other industry role players.