São Tomé and Príncipe Oil Minister Confirms Participation in the Corporate Council on Africa's Houston Oil & Gas Conference

8 November 2004
Corporate Council on Africa (Washington, DC)
press release

Washington, DC — São Tomé and Príncipe’s Oil Minister, Arlindo Carvalho, will join other major African oil executives and decision makers in Houston, Texas from November 29th to December 1st for the Corporate Council on Africa’s (CCA) third annual Africa Oil & Gas Forum. The conference will address important issues relevant to doing business with the African energy sector as well as incentives for U.S. companies to invest in an area of growing strategic importance to American energy needs.

“We’re excited about Mr. Carvalho’s participation,” said Stephen Hayes, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa. “As São Tomé and Príncipe becomes recognized as a global energy player, we are honored to host the minister at our oil & gas forum.”

Approximately 200 oil executives from Africa and the United States are expected to attend.

In addition to Minister Carvalho, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, the special advisor on Energy to the Nigerian President, Mr. Lamin Njie, The Gambia’s Energy Commissioner, and H.E. Semega Hamed Diane, Mali’s Oil Minister, have confirmed their participation. Additional African oil ministers expected to attend include the oil ministers of Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, Mauritania and Madagascar and the vice-minister from Angola. A South African oil services private sector delegation is also expected.

Mr. Hayes spoke to the significance of the conference, "We are very excited about this event. We have assembled an impressive program which offers an opportunity that anyone interested in the African energy sector cannot afford to miss. Given the shortage of proven reserves in today’s market, now more than ever it is imperative, that we explore new and underdeveloped markets, making Africa’s oil & gas sector more important than ever. We hope that you will join us at this important event and meet key players who are generally inaccessible to the U.S. private sector.”

The U.S. is seeking to diversify its energy suppliers, and Africa has become one of the hottest regions in the world for oil and gas exploration. Already, more than 15% of U.S. oil imports come from Africa, and by 2015 the figure is expected to rise to 25%. Africa has been identified as an energy powerhouse due to its strategic geographic location, relative stability and low labor and infrastructure costs. The discovery rate in Africa boasts nearly 50%, surpassing all other regions over the past five years.

For a full listing of confirmed dignitaries, a detailed agenda and to register online, please visit CCA’s website at www.africacncl.org.

The conference is sponsored by ExxonMobil, Gaviston, ConocoPhillips, ChevronTexaco, Anadarko, Devon Energy, Shell, Vanco and the Greater Houston Partnership.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2004 Corporate Council on Africa. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.