The leader of the African Energy Chamber (CAE) in Mozambique, Florival Mucave, on Monday criticised the move of the ‘Africa Oil Week’ (AOW) forum from Johannesburg to Dubai, for implying that Africa does not have the conditions for such an exhibition.
“I am deeply concerned about the decision to move AOW to Dubai under the pretext of protecting participants from covid-19 infections in Cape Town,” he said, adding that “this sends the message that when things are tough because of covid-19, Africa should be abandoned in favour of other places, regardless of the loyalty Africa has shown for over two decades.”
At issue is the change of this exhibition, which will present the main trends and prospects for energy exploration on the continent, and which was announced earlier this month by consultancy Hyve due to concerns over the pandemic situation in South Africa.
“When you take away trade and business opportunities from Africa, you are taking away jobs and opportunities from Africans; the AOW has made its decision, and the onus is on us to demonstrate that as a continent we are capable and want to organise a conference that proudly showcases the oil and gas industry in Africa and takes into account all the protocols and preventative measures for covid-19 contagion,” said Florival Mucave.
“The decision is wrong, short-sighted in thinking and sends a negative message about Africa,” reads the statement sent to Lusa, in which it states that the choice “underestimates [Africa’s] capacity to prepare to host events that define the success of the energy sector and the economy in the future” and concludes: “Imagine that the African Nations League in football was played in Dubai because a company says Africa is not the right place because of the covid-19 pandemic.”
AOW brings together the major oil operators on the continent, and has confirmed the presence of several multinationals, including Chevron and TotalEnergies, which have already confirmed their presence at the exhibition in Dubai.
