ECOWAS Mining and Petroleum Forum to be held in Niger in 2020
Niamey, Niger (PANA) - Niger will organize a Mining and Petroleum Forum in 2020 to provide a unique platform for key players in the mining and oil sectors of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries, according to official sources.
An agreement to that effect was signed by Niger and ECOWAS on Tuesday.
The sub-regional event aims to provide a unique platform for the main actors in the Community's mining and petroleum sectors to engage in an ongoing inclusive and participatory dialogue on how to strengthen this industry.
"West Africa is endowed with abundant geological resources. Notwithstanding all these resources, the subregion has not been able to derive maximum benefit from the development of ECOWAS member countries. This prompted the Assembly of Heads of State and Government to set up the Mines and Petroleum Forum every two years," said Petroleum Minister Foumakoye Gado.
This forum, he said, is a biennial platform for cooperation to promote and develop the geo-extractive sector in the ECOWAS region. "ECOMOF also aims to highlight technology development and a continuous and inclusive dialogue for the development of the sector. It is also an opportunity to cooperate and define some related development perspectives.
Mr Gado stressed that Niger is pleased with the organization of this promotional forum, especially since, apart from being a mining country of choice, the country has been producing oil since 2011 (with 20,000 barrels/day) refined on-site at the SORAZ refinery where the surplus refined products are sold to ECOWAS member countries. Since then, the oil sector has continued to grow.
The ECOWAS Commissioner of Mines and Energy, Mr. Sediko Douka, expressed his deep gratitude to the Nigerien President, Issoufou Mahamadou, who is the current President of the ECOWAS Assembly of Heads of State and Government, as well as to his government and the people of Niger, for having agreed to host this 3rd edition of the ECOWAS Mining and Oil Forum (ECOMOF 2020).
"In truth, the remarkable leadership shown by the President of the Republic in regional and international affairs has led him to co-chair the Regional Task Force on the creation of the ECOWAS single currency and has been designated as ZLECAF Champion. Also, the issue of energy infrastructure is one of the priorities of the President of the Republic of Niger during his term at ECOWAS since June of this year," he added.
All ECOWAS Member States are invited to this forum and each will benefit from a free stand to hold its exhibitions. Paid stands will be allocated to public and private, national, regional and international mining and petroleum companies.
Conferences and debates will be held on issues such as the review of the various mining and petroleum codes in the region; strategies to attract foreign direct investment; fundraising; diversification of the mining industry; mining and the development of national expertise; sustainable development and post-mining and the social responsibilities of mining and petroleum companies.
In this perspective, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Mines and Energy has invited all operators in the mining and petroleum sectors to take note of the 3rd edition of ECOMOF, to be held in 2020 in Niamey, Niger.
He particularly urged the private sector, state institutions and non-state actors to actively participate in this 2020 edition in order to ensure its full success.
-0- PANA SA/BEH/MTA/VAO 5Nov2019
