The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, has called for greater regulatory harmonisation across African countries to attract investment, improve market efficiency and support sustainable growth in the continent’s petroleum industry.
He made the call during a high-level panel discussion on regulatory convergence in African oil and gas markets at the 20th edition of the OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week in Lagos, Nigeria.
Mr Tameklo stressed that closer alignment of regulatory standards, licensing requirements and compliance procedures across jurisdictions would improve the ease of doing business and strengthen investor confidence.
He noted that while African countries maintain distinct national regulatory frameworks, greater cooperation and harmonisation could help create a more integrated and competitive energy market.
The NPA Chief Executive also highlighted the need for strategic investments in refining infrastructure, technology, storage facilities and human capital to maximise value addition within Africa’s petroleum industry.
He said strengthening domestic refining capacity and promoting technology transfer were essential to reducing dependence on imported petroleum products, improving energy security and creating sustainable employment opportunities.
According to him, investments in these areas would enable African countries to retain more value from their petroleum resources while strengthening the resilience of their energy sectors.
Mr Tameklo further advocated stronger collaboration among regulators, governments and industry stakeholders to support cross-border energy projects, facilitate knowledge sharing and establish common standards that advance regional integration.
He emphasised that capable institutions and a skilled workforce were critical to positioning Africa’s oil and gas industry for long-term competitiveness and resilience.
He concluded that regulatory convergence should be viewed not merely as a compliance exercise but as a strategic tool for unlocking investment, stimulating innovation and accelerating the development of a more integrated and prosperous African energy market.
