Tinubu, NASS members, 30 companies for Rivers energy summit

President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and members of the National Assembly are expected to attend the 8th Energy Summit organised by Solewant Group, an indigenous energy company based in Port Harcourt.

The summit, scheduled to take place in Rivers State on 29 November 2024, will also host 30 local and international companies. The theme for this year’s summit is “Pioneering Technology and Innovation for Transition to Sustainable Energy Development in Africa.”

Solewant Group’s Group Managing Director, Solomon Ewanehi, revealed this information at a pre-summit press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. Represented by Dr Benjamin Ubeleble, Executive Secretary of Solewant Energy Institute, Ewanehi described the summit as a landmark event that will gather some of the finest minds and dedicated professionals in the energy sector.

Ewanehi explained, “This summit comes at a critical time, aligning with the presidential directive urging stakeholders to strengthen their efforts to boost oil production and grow the national economy.”

He further noted that the summit reflects President Bola Tinubu’s directive for innovation, investment, and collaborative action among the nation’s oil and gas stakeholders to address and meet energy demands.

Ewanehi added, “The Solewant Group has responded to this call by ensuring energy asset integrity management to enhance pipeline longevity through our services. This summit aims to create a platform for state actors, industry leaders, oil and gas experts, academics, innovators, and technology providers to exchange ideas, showcase breakthrough developments, and build partnerships that drive growth and efficiency in the energy sector.

“Our goal is to inspire discussions leading to measurable improvements in our energy sector, focusing not only on increasing oil production but also on enhancing the sustainability, security, and resilience of our energy infrastructure and environment. This aligns with the government’s vision to position Nigeria as a strong and reliable energy producer.”

“Key Objectives and Themes of the Summit The summit is built around three key objectives: Driving Technological Innovation: We are focused on unveiling and supporting breakthrough technologies that can transform oil and gas production processes.

“Scheduled panel discussion sessions will highlight new technologies in digital transformation, automation, robotics, and green energy innovations that have the potential to increase efficiency and reduce production costs.

“We will engage in discussions on policies that can encourage investment in Nigeria’s energy sector, streamline regulatory processes, and provide a stable framework for sustainable growth.

“Government representatives and policymakers will provide insights into upcoming regulations and offer guidance on aligning business strategies with national goals.

“This summit is planned to encourage collaboration across sectors, emphasizing the power of partnerships between public institutions, private enterprises, and academia. Such partnerships, we believe are critical for implementing new ideas and overcoming the multifaceted challenges the industry faces today across Africa.”

On the expectations of the meeting, he said, “We believe that at the end of the energy summit, we anticipate the unveiling of innovations that could make oil extraction, processing, and distribution more efficient, reliable, and eco-friendly. This includes updates on digital oilfields, artificial intelligence in energy management, and advanced data analytics.”

He added, “On the key persons that will be in attendance, I will start with the presidency. As far as we are concerned we have spread our wings wide because this summit is an African summit.

“You cannot host an African summit without getting the presidency involved. We have reached out to the Presidency and our letter was acknowledged and they have promised to be available.

” We are not aware if the President will be coming in person, but there is a directive that someone from the Presidency will be available.”

Continuing, Ewanehi, “On the National Assembly also we have made contact with the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio. As I speak to you our team will be in Abuja next week to touch base with his office and one of our cardinal objectives of going there too is the presidency.

“Also expected is the Senate Committee Chairman on Gas and Petroleum and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has been a pioneer member of Solewant Group.

“Internally too, our partner from Canada has indicated interest. And as ai speak with you the MD is going around meeting some of them.

“We have about 35 exhibition groups, locally we have about 15 companies that have already indicated interest to exhibit. And then internationally about 10 have already picked their stands. If you put that number together it is about 30.”

He further said, “Strategies for Boosting Production Capacity: Sessions will address current limitations in production and highlight strategies to address infrastructure gaps, improve operational workflows, and ensure more effective resource management.”