Niger/3rd edition of the ECOWAS Mining and Petroleum Forum and Exhibition: Putting the mining and oil industries at the heart of the region's development

The Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energies, Mr. Mahamane Sani Mahamadou has presided over the official launch of the activities of the 3rd edition of the ECOWAS Mining and Petroleum Forum and Exhibition (ECOMOF 2021) that our country will have the pleasure of hosting from 1st to 3rd December. This edition placed under the sign "Integrating the mining and petroleum industries in the development of regional value chains", is co-organized by Niger, through the Ministries in charge of Mines and Petroleum and the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with AmeTrade.

The forum aims to promote and develop the mining and petroleum potential of member states, help ensure the socio-economic integration of the West African region, harmonize legal, regulatory and fiscal instruments, catalyze and develop artisanal and small-scale mining, and establish, develop and organize geological, mining and petroleum databases.and fiscal instruments, catalyze and develop artisanal and small-scale mining, establish, develop and organize geological, mining and petroleum databases for Member States, develop and maintain a database of information on mining and petroleum.and petroleum databases for Member States, develop human resources and create a network of experts, use the mining and petroleum industries to develop community infrastructure, add value to mining products and services, and promote the development of the mining industry.ECOWAS organizes a bi-annual conference on mining and petroleum for Member States, to develop human resources and create a network of experts, to use the mining and petroleum industries to develop community infrastructure, to add value to mining and petroleum products, to strengthen trade in these products, to promote corporate social responsibility and to raise awareness of development issues in their local communities.

ECOWAS organizes every two years, a Mining and Petroleum Forum/Exhibition (ECOMOF) to promote a sustainable contribution of the extractive sector to the economic growth and social development of the community. After the first edition held in Accra (Ghana) in 2015 and the second edition in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) in 2018, it is the turn of Niamey to host the third edition of ECOMOF.edition of the ECOMOF which will be held from 1 to 3 December 2021, with a one-year delay, due to the Covid-19 pandemic which prevented it from being held in 2020.

For the Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energies, Mr. For the Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energies, Mr. Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, also leader of ECOMOF, the theme of this 3rd edition of ECOMOF, namely "Integrating the mining and petroleum industries in the development of energy chains", is a key element of the conference.The theme of this 3rd edition of ECOMOF, namely "Integrating the mining and petroleum industries in the development of regional value chains", calls for the imperative need to make the mining and petroleum sectors pillars of our economies. To do this, it is more than urgent, he believes, that "our countries develop policies that attract investors, while creating the conditions for greater participation of the mining and oil sectors in the revenue of States. "In Niger, we have chosen to improve the knowledge and promotion of the mining and oil potential; to modernize the mining and oil cadastres; to create more industries using petrochemical raw material," he said. Mahamane Sani Mahamadou.

According to the minister in charge of petroleum, all the actions in favour of these two areas should allow, on the one hand, to increase the weight of this sector to 25% of GDP, 45% of tax revenues, 68% of exports and 12% of formal employment. As for the mining sector, these measures will make it possible to increase the geological and geophysical coverage from 13 to 22% and from 20 to 31% respectively. "This means that the mining and oil sectors will have a bright future in Niger," he said.

For the Minister in charge of Petroleum, the ECOMOF is meant to be the interface of the great contribution that mining and petroleum resources could make to the consumption and development of the African continent, through industrialization and regional cooperation. "It is through sustainable industrialization that Africa will be able to significantly, like all industrial nations in the world, consume its economy, achieve an acceptable level of development and eradicate poverty," he said.

In her welcoming remarks, the Minister of Mines, Mrs. Ousseini Hadizatou Yacouba explained that this forum represents a regional platform for exchange which will give the opportunity to the actors to highlight the importance of sustainable industrialization.In her welcome address, the Minister of Mines, Mrs. Ousseini Hadizatou Yacouba explained that this forum represents a regional platform for exchange which will give the opportunity to the actors to highlight the potential of Niger in particular and West Africa in general, in the extractive industries sectors. The objective is to share experience, knowledge and know-how and to create new partnerships and networks. Experts from African oil, gas and mining companies, national and international companies, governments, the private sector as well as the new generation of potential investors will explore innovative ideas at the forum. For Ms. Ousseini Hadizatou Yacouba, the discussions on the evolution of mining and petroleum activities will help identify challenges and reflect on coherent strategies to address them.The discussions on the evolution of mining and petroleum activities will make it possible to identify the challenges to be met and to reflect on coherent strategies for the promotion and development of sustainable mining and petroleum resources in the community space. "The holding of the ECOMOF will help strengthen cooperation between Member States in the area of extractive resources management, promote an environment conducive to investment and work towards proper sub-regional integration," she said.

For his part, the Commissioner for Energy and Mines of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Sédiko Douka, acknowledged that several challenges exist in the extractive resources sector in West Africa. He cited, among others, weak regulatory frameworks and means of monitoring and controlling extractive activities, a low level of local content resulting in low involvement of local operators in the production of goods and services, low contribution to national wealth, low equitable distribution of resources, and a lack of transparency. In order to address these challenges, several measures have been taken to improve the quality of life of the local population and to improve the quality of life of the local population. To face these challenges, several actions have been carried out in the ECOWAS region, including the adoption of the ECOWAS Mineral Resources Development Policy and the adoption of the Directive on the Harmonization of Guiding Principles and Policies in the sector, particularly in the mining sector. Then in the oil sector, Mr. Sédiko Douka noted among other things the adoption of the ECOWAS hydrocarbon development policy and the adoption of a regional program to facilitate the supply of petroleum products.

Source: www.lesahel.org/