ARDA Calls for Establishment of Downstream Register in Africa

Pan-African organization the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) has called for the development of an African downstream register to support the continent’s energy ambitions.

Speaking in Cape Town on April 7, Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of ARDA, highlighted that increased intra-African downstream investment needs to match upstream development across the continent.

“We must look to having an intra-African energy industry. Our downstream investments are not keeping up,” Kragha stated.

It was noted that investments across Africa’s downstream supply chain need to be segmented and registered by activity, including refining, terminals, pipeline infrastructure, tanker fleets, service stations and bottling plants. As such, the development of a register has the potential to improve investor confidence, streamline project development and drive cross-border energy security.

During the presentation, Kragha indicated that LPG is the fastest growing petroleum product in sub-Saharan Africa and called for the development of a dedicated Africa LPG sector development fund to finance projects.