Message from Africa Regional Director
March 2026
Dear esteemed members of the SPE Africa Region,
Closing Strong – As the First Quarter Draws to a Close, Africa Rises to the Moment
March brings us to the close of the first quarter of 2026. Three months into the year, I am encouraged by the steady progress we are making across our key priorities. The foundation laid in January and strengthened in February is now translating into measurable action. Our calendar is active, our committees are engaged, and our members are responding with enthusiasm and commitment.
One of the core values of SPE International is our unwavering commitment to Technical Excellence and Professionalism, a commitment to innovation, lifelong learning, and the highest standards of conduct and expertise. It is in this spirit that we continue to channel focused effort toward the major engagements of 2026. Every workshop, conference, lecture, and training initiative this year is designed to create an enabling environment where technical knowledge thrives and professionals grow with confidence.
February was particularly intensive, filled with strategic meetings and comprehensive planning sessions to ensure seamless delivery of our upcoming activities. The pace has been demanding, but the clarity of purpose makes the effort worthwhile.
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one." — Mark Twain
I would also like to commend everyone who submitted nominations for the 2026 SPE Africa Regional Awards, which officially closed on 1st March. I wish all nominees the very best.
"As Africa Regional Director, I strongly believe that visibility matters. Being seen, acknowledged, and celebrated for the value you bring to our industry is not merely symbolic. It strengthens professional confidence and inspires others to strive for excellence. Recognition fuels aspiration." — Dr Riverson Oppong
SPE Ghana Biennial International Summit & Exhibition (GH-BISE) – A Continental Gathering
One of the most significant events on our 2026 calendar is fast approaching. This event continues to grow as an important convening of energy leaders, policymakers, researchers, and industry professionals. I am pleased to share that board members from the SPE Africa Region and SPE International will be in attendance, including the 2027 SPE International President, Susan Howes.
Within GH BISE, we will host the SPE Africa Section Officers Workshop, reinforcing our focus on volunteer leadership and strong section governance across the continent. I encourage members and section officers to register and participate actively.
Register for GH-BISE 2026: https://www.speghana.com/gh-bise-2026
SPE Africa Young Professionals – Leading the Conversation
The Africa Young Professionals community continues to be one of the most dynamic and forwardlooking segments of our region, and 2026 is set to be a landmark year for their flagship engagements.
2026 SPE Africa Young Professionals Intersectional Debate
The Intersectional Debate has been designed as a high-level platform for Young Professionals across our Sections to engage rigorously on strategic energy issues affecting the continent. This edition will move beyond rhetoric and focus on structured, policy-oriented outcomes that can contribute meaningfully to industry discourse and regional progress.
The preliminary debate rounds will commence in March 2026 across participating Sections. Sections will be invited to nominate representatives to compete at the regional level, culminating in the grand finale. The intellectual firepower that Africa's young professionals bring to these conversations never ceases to inspire me — and this edition promises to be no different.
2026 SPE Africa Young Professionals Workshop
The finals of the Intersectional Debate, together with the Africa Young Professionals Workshop, will take place during the SPE Ghana Biennial International Seminar and Exhibition scheduled for 20–22 May 2026 in Accra, Ghana. This pairing of the Debate and Workshop at GH-BISE makes Accra in May a must-attend destination for every Young Professional in our region.
"The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible — and achieve it, generation after generation." — Pearl S. Buck
SPE Africa Technology Conference (ATC 2026) – Abidjan Beckons
Following the GH-BISE, the second edition of the SPE Africa Technology Conference (ATC 2026) is slated for 16th to 18th June at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Abidjan Airport, Côte d'Ivoire. Building on the enormous success of our inaugural edition, this year's conference is shaping up to be even bigger and more impactful.
We have received numerous abstracts which are currently under review by our technical committee. Once the review process is complete, all individuals whose abstracts have been accepted will be notified directly by email. If you submitted an abstract, please watch your inbox — we appreciate your contribution and look forward to sharing the outcomes of the review.
We are also actively calling for exhibitors, sponsors, and partners for ATC 2026. This is an exceptional opportunity to put your brand in front of over 500 delegates drawn from across Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. The conference will feature numerous high-profile figures in SPE and the global energy sector, government officials, and key representatives from leading oil and gas companies. The platform speaks for itself.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." — Helen Keller
I encourage every company, organization, and individual who believes in the power of African energy to find their place at ATC 2026 — as a delegate, an exhibitor, a sponsor, or a partner.
Learn more about ATC 2026: https://www.speafricatechconference.org
SPE Africa Geothermal Workshop 2026 – Unlocking a Continent's Clean Energy Potential
In July, attention will shift to the 2026 SPE Africa Geothermal Workshop, taking place on 20th to 21st July 2026 at the Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme Harnessing Africa’s Geothermal Potential for a Sustainable Energy Future. This workshop will convene industry leaders, regulators, and policymakers to examine how geothermal resources can strengthen Africa’s energy security and long term resilience.
Find out more: https://www.speafricageothermalworkshop.org
Key Industry Engagements – Africa's Voice in Action
February provided several meaningful opportunities to represent SPE Africa and advance our region's agenda on prominent platforms.
SAIPEC 2026 – Amplifying Africa's Expertise in Nigeria
At the 10th Sub Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference 2026, hosted by PETAN, I delivered a keynote address focused on the value proposition of SPE International and the strategic direction of the Africa Region. The message was clear. Africa must not only produce energy. Africa must produce expertise.
I also led a special interactive plenary session titled Youth Talks Live Onstage Interview with Energy Leaders, where we addressed closing the experience gap, strengthening technical and commercial capacity, advancing entrepreneurship, and building inclusion. Engaging with hundreds of SPE students from multiple Nigerian universities was both humbling and inspiring. Their curiosity and bold questions reaffirm why youth development remains a cornerstone of our mission.
SPE Lagos Energy Week 2026 – The Case for Gas
I also participated in the SPE Lagos Energy Week 2026, hosted by the SPE Lagos Section at the Landmark Event Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, on 18th and 19th February 2026. Under the theme Sustainable Growth Through Gas, discussions centered on how natural gas can reinforce energy security, drive industrial expansion, and support inclusive economic growth across West Africa.
Public Lecture at CEIBS Africa – Energy Sovereignty in Focus
On 6th February 2026, I delivered a high-level public lecture at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) Africa, Accra, under the theme "Energy Sovereignty in the Context of the Global Energy Transition: What Africa Should Know." The lecture addressed the strategic risks and opportunities facing African economies as global energy systems undergo rapid transformation. I cautioned that without a unified and pragmatic energy pathway, Africa risks losing control over its energy future amid shifting global policies, investment patterns, and trade rules. As I put it during the lecture:
"If Africa does not decide whether it is part of the energy transition, others will decide for us — and those decisions may not align with our development priorities."
Final Thoughts – All Hands on Deck
As we approach the second quarter of the year, I call on all section officers, volunteers, and members to remain actively engaged. We need all hands on deck for the upcoming activities across the region. Collaboration remains the epicenter of our vision for 2026, and our commitment to young professional development is stronger than ever.
The scale of what we aim to accomplish this year requires shared ownership and collective energy. As Henry Ford once said, If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.
The first quarter closes with purpose. The journey continues.
Africa's finest hour does not belong to tomorrow — it is being written right now, by us, together.
#WeAreSPEAfrica
Warm regards,
Dr. Riverson Oppong
SPE Africa Regional Director
CEO - Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies, Ghana
Click here to download the March Regional Director's Update.