HISTORY
The African Institute of Petroleum (AIP) originated at a meeting on 11th October 1995 in Johannesburg between Duncan Clarke (Chairman & CEO, Global Pacific & Partners) and Conrad Gerber (President, Petrologistics Ltd), who conceived the initiative, convened with others a follow-up occasion held in Geneva on 3rd May 1996, generated support from African officials and corporate executives involved in the Continent’s oil and gas industry, and later launched the AIP, with its Secretariat managed by Global Pacific & Partners in Johannesburg.
The AIP held Annual General Meetings at the Africa Upstream Conference in Cape Town each year from 1996-2001, following its establishment in Harare. On its Inaugural Meeting (Wednesday 18th September 1996), the South African Minister for Mineral & Energy Affairs (Hon Penuell Maduna) noted the following:
“The launching of the African Institute of Petroleum could be the beginning of a new era in human betterment on the African continent thanks to African governments, working with international oil and gas exploration companies. Together, we can really take Africa upstream, both in 1996 and beyond”
Numerous senior executives from companies, Ministries, National Oil Companies, and individuals joined the AIP, which served as a network and undertook selective studies on African oil and gas (Constraints On Investment In African Petroleum, and Privatisation In African Oil & Energy) while conducting a first-ever Survey of company views on the status of Africa’s upstream industry at the time.
While the AIP recorded several notable achievements (drawing in 75 Members), it was placed in abeyance in 2001.
AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM
Global Pacific & Partners re-launched the AIP at its 16th Africa Oil Week on 2nd November 2009, the new Institute’s format and functions reshaped to meet contemporary needs and conditions.
During the tenure of the former AIP, many Member companies were taken over, merged, or fell by the wayside. Several Members have since exited the African industry, many officials and executives have retired, and the former organisation structure acted to inhibit the AIP performing key functions with efficiency and continuity.
Africa’s downstream industry, then included in the AIP, has reorganised in another body. Africa’s upstream industry meanwhile has moved ahead dramatically, but remains without any central focus for companies (state institutions being represented in APPA, and elsewhere). Meanwhile, new continent-wide requirements exist.
SERVICES
The following activities, functions and tasks are planned by the AIP for 2010. Member inputs are invited to help shape annual programs:
- Inaugural AIP Re-launch: 2nd November 2009, Cape Town
- Special Inaugural Meeting, London: Thursday 18th February
- Communications: By Secretariat on Africa’s upstream
- Annual Upstream Survey: The State of Africa’s Oil & Gas
- Special Online e-Conference/s: Research for AIP Members
- Member Luncheons: London and Africa
- Annual Conrad Gerber Award for Africa, 2010
- AIP Member Webpage on www.petro21.com
- Linkages with APA and selected African institutions
- AIP Annual Member Meeting, Cape Town, October 2010
The AIP Secretariat, managed by Global Pacific & Partners (Johannesburg, The Hague), has multiple tools at its disposal to further the Institute’s aims. The firm has unique Africa experience, Continent-wide and global industry relationships, with professional capacity to execute all AIP’s programs and services.
