Oil Africa shows keen interest

EXHIBITOR numbers are nudging 100 for Africa's leading oil expo and conference Oil Africa 2006 to be held in Cape Town from March 22 to 24. One hall is already full and a second under negotiation to house more of the biggest players in the oil industry supplies and manufacturing sector in South Africa.

Oil Africa 2006 has all the hallmarks of Africa's most valuable event in the continent's oil industry, says Bette McNaughton, whose Fair Consultants SA is joint organiser of the event with Exhibition Management Services.

The event consists of a comprehensive exhibition at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) and an international conference attended by African, European and American big guns in the global oil industry.

Among the organizations and companies that will send speakers are The African Energy Commission, Nepad, NNPC Nigeria, Sonangol Angola, GEPetrol Equatorial Guinea, Sasol E&P, BP SA and West Africa, Total, PetroSA, Marathon Oil, and BHB Billiton. Representing the government of the Western Cape, which holds some of the most important suppliers to the South African mining, gas and oil industry, premier Ibrahim Rasool will also outline the region's vision for playing a part in the African oil initiative.

SA Oil & Gas Alliance (SAOGA), DTI and Wesgro are on track to deliver inbound missions from West Africa and Europe comprising at least 40 procurement officers from the oil industry, to the exhibition. These handpicked visitors will be partly sponsored by the DTI. SA Oil & Gas Alliance and Wesgro will be managing and facilitating the administration of the inbound missions.

DTI will also have a national pavilion on Oil Africa 2006 to encourage BEE/SMME participation and involvement in the oil industry, and increased international business opportunities.

Confirmed sponsors are PetroSA, IDC and the City of Cape Town.

Currently, 15 British companies have confirmed their participation at Oil Africa with another eight finalising their budget and travel plans prior to commitment.

Having experienced the strategic positioning and boom in business that Aberdeen underwent as a result of the North Sea oil fields, British companies are probably far more aware than most of the potential impact Cape Town can have as a supply hub to the West African Oil Fields. But the British are not the only foreigners booking space at Oil Africa.

Negotiations are taking place internationally, from Russia to India while nearly 100 local companies have booked their stands.