Oil and gas convention to address local content gaps

Mr Donald Mahaga (left), chairman of Kenya Oil and Gas Association (KOGA), and Mr Mwendia Nyaga, the CEO of Oil and Energy Services (OES), when KOGA officially endorsed the OES Local Content Convention to be held June 16 – 19 in Nairobi.

THE DISCOVERY of oil in Kenya three years ago ignited a lot excitement. Kenyans began to figure an economy run by oil revenues, with the government planning to invest in a pipeline to transport crude to the refinery.

But as exploration companies continue to drill more wells, it turns a handful of Kenyans understand the oil economics. Focus has tended to fall on exploration companies like Tullow Oil, which carry the hopes of a nation, yet there are numerous aspects of the oil businesses besides the exploration and drilling. Kenya has few experts in this field who can help structure a successful economic model around oil and gas resources.

One of them is Mr Mwendia Nyaga, a former National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) chief executive. He now runs Oil & Energy Services Ltd, a consulting firm that seeks to increase the participation of local people and entrepreneurs in the oil and gas industry, which is billed to be the next big growth sector.

So on June 16th to 19th this year, Mr Mwendia is bringing together various players and potential stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, including government, at the Oil & Energy Services Local Content Convention (OES LCC) to be held at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi. 

The convention, featuring high profile local and international speakers, will address a wide range of issues touching on the oil and gas industry in an effort to open participants’ eyes and aspirations to the not-so-obvious but huge opportunities created by the new industry.

The goal is getting more Kenyans and East Africans to actively participate and benefit from the oil and gas industry by providing various services and goods that feed into the value chain. participants are draw from policy and law markets to international and local companies. “Local content is a sexy subject but many people don’t understand it,” says Mr Nyaga. “The convention is a forum where local business meets with international oil and gas players.”

The OES LCC seeks to provide players with an opportunity to showcase their business, products and services as well as technology to a large clientele at the convention. He says East Africa needs international partners to help develop capacity both in terms of technical skills as well as selection of the right equipment and technologies. Last year’s conference attracted 300 delegates, 70 companies and 52 speakers.

It stimulated thinking in government, which has resulted in the Senate crafting the local content Bill. The conference has been attracting government backing, including the Ministry of Energy. This year’s conference is expected to be opened by Deputy President William Ruto. It has also received endorsement from KEPSA, National Oil and UK Trade and Investment.

For more information visit the conference site here

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