2024 Conference Agenda Sessions

PANEL DISCUSSION   Local Content: Exploring Regional Cooperation Avenues to Incentivise Foreign Inv

As local content requirements become more stringent, African countries must ensure that regulations strike an appropriate balance between building local-industry capacity and reducing costs without deterring foreign investments. In this conundrum, regional cooperation offers attractive opportunities for knowledge sharing, technology transfers and the sharing of best practices. We bring together organisations and representatives from some of the continent's most active services associations to discuss the right balance between protecting and growing local industries while remaining attractive to foreign investments across the value-chain. 
 
Key areas of discussion:  

• What are the critical elements of an effective local content policy in the African hydrocarbons industry, and how can governments ensure successful implementation to maximize local participation and benefits? 

• How can African countries collaborate regionally to enhance skills development and training programs tailored to the needs of the hydrocarbons sector, ensuring a skilled workforce capable of supporting local content goals? 

• What strategies can be employed to facilitate technology transfer and promote local innovation in the African hydrocarbons industry, and how can regional cooperation support these efforts? 

• How can regional integration and collaboration among African countries strengthen the local supply chain for the hydrocarbons sector, from upstream exploration to downstream services and manufacturing? 

Capital for gas: challenges and opportunities of financing an African gas-based energy transition

With African gas ambitions on the rise, the financing needs of drilling for gas, processing it and distributing it are on the rise and require a different approach to project financing and capital raising. What are the particularities of African gas projects and who will finance them? We bring financiers, investors and gas developers around a fresh and new conversation on the challenges and opportunities of financing a gas-enabled energy transformation in Africa.

Key areas of discussion: 

• What are the key factors influencing investor confidence in financing natural gas projects in Africa, and how can risks related to regulatory, political, and market volatility be effectively managed?

• How significant is the role of multilateral and bilateral financing institutions in supporting natural gas projects in Africa, and what strategies can be employed to increase their involvement and impact?

• What innovative financing instruments (e.g., green bonds, project bonds, blended finance) are emerging to support natural gas projects in Africa, and how can they be tailored to address the specific needs of the sector?

• How can financing for natural gas projects in Africa contribute to local content development and meaningful community engagement? What are the best practices for ensuring that financing benefits local communities and promotes sustainable development?