TOPIC: Development of Quality Programmes and Oil Laboratories in West Africa

History of Oil Exploration in West Africa

In 1956, 64 years ago, the first commercial quantities of oil were found in West Africa, in the Niger Delta basin of Nigeria. But the new century has again led to a surge in demand for African oil and gas. All major international energy firms are heavily investing in Africa, wells are being drilled along the entire coast, from Morocco in the North to Namibia in the South as well as in the interior. Production and proven reserves have attained new heights.

Currently, several factors are influencing oil production in West Africa. International demand, prices at levels not seen in thirty years, new technologies in oil and gas exploration, quality testing and production. At this juncture, it is the regions responsibility to prove its effective quality infrastructure.

Development of Quality Programmes in West Africa

It is learned that since 2001, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have been supporting the Economic Community of West African States in the promotion of a quality culture in the region to help develop suitable, relevant, efficient and effective quality infrastructure to facilitate intra-regional and international trade, protect consumers and the environment and promote sustainable economic development.

Efforts such as these can firmly anchor Africa on a path towards inclusive, quality and sustainable industrial development and contribute to the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Under the West African Quality System Programme (WAQSP) with the help of the quality policy of Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS), 16 West African countries will strengthen their quality infrastructure for greater effectiveness, leading to enhanced competitiveness and better regional trade participation. The programme will bolster the creation of quality centres of excellence and networks of specialized quality institutions such as laboratories and assessment bodies to provide efficient services to local and exporting companies. Consumers will enjoy more protection as a result economic development will be sustainably promoted.

Growth of Oil Testing Coverage in West Africa

AmSpec, a company which complies with Green House Gas Mandatory Reporting Rule (40 CFR § 98.3 ref: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/98.3) in 2019 announced its continued global growth with new testing capabilities and inspection coverage in West Africa.

AmSpec has added West African inspection coverage in Togo, Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, DRC and Angola while adding three laboratories located in Lomé Togo, Lagos, and Port Harcourt with crude and petroleum products testing capabilities.

Arab Gulf States and their West African Investments

Arab Gulf states are intervening more assertively in Sub-Saharan and West Africa to capitalize on economic opportunities and protect their security interests.

Fabrice Adjakly an alumni of the Intec Paris, an institute of the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (CNAM) says that, ‘the region is progressing on a professional and systematic method of quality standards, it will help in the future of trade and investments, especially when the GCC states have advanced their strategies of economic diversification and reduced reliance on oil, by investing in African markets”.

The Gulf states’ ability to execute large-scale infrastructure projects is also appealing to rapidly-developing African states complementing larger infrastructure investments in West Africa such as the Dakar port and economic zone.

References:

https://www.unido.org/

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/98.3

https://www.amspecllc.com/about/

https://www.petro-online.com/news/

https://www.csis.org/analysis/

Picture: From UNIDO Publication, https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/2017-10/accreditation_EN.pdf

http://www.cnam.eu/students-and-professionals/