Impacts for Africa as the US Exports Crude

With the United States on the cusp of becoming an energy exporter — as opposed to its traditional role as a net energy importer — Centurion Law Group sponsored a discussion by the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators on the impacts of the impending change for Africa. Adaku Ufere, Energy Practice Lead for Centurion Law Group, moderated the panel at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra in Accra, Ghana.

The presentation, “The United States Transition from Net Energy Importer to Net Energy Exporter: What This Means for Africa’s Producing Countries,” included panelists:

• Papa Kwasi Anamua Sakyi – Chairman, Institute for Energy Security (IES)
• Barbara Andoh – Energy Policy Analyst, Imani Center for Policy and Education
• Afetsi Awoonor, Petroleum Trader, Adelanto Oil

Genevieve Ocansey, Ghana Office Country Head for Centurion Law Group, also gave an introductory speech

The panel looked at countries like Nigeria, which are exploring the possibility of exporting crude that has been earmarked for the USA in the past to other African nations, instead.

Some of the questions addressed by the group included: Will this create a new intra-Africa trading market? Will this hasten the production of infrastructure to support this new venture? And how will the new Dangote Refinery set to begin production in 2020, be able to take advantage of this?