Report of a Pivotal Webinar: Strategies and Innovative Solutions for Local Content in Focus

On July 25th, the Central Africa Business Energy Forum (CABEF) held its third webinar, focusing on the theme: « Local Content: Challenges and Effective Implementation Strategies to Boost National Economies. » This virtual event brought together renowned experts who shared their experiences and insights on effectively integrating local content into Central African economies. The webinar provided a valuable opportunity to explore contemporary challenges and propose concrete solutions to maximize local economic benefits, drawing on concrete examples from the oil and gas sector.

Panel of Speakers

This webinar brought together a panel of eminent speakers, including:

  • Dr. DEFOUKOUEMOU HIMBE Lamine, Associate Professor at Paris-Saclay University
  • Mr. Brice ASOPJIO, General Manager of MALEGA ENERGY in Cameroon
  • Mr. David Pappoe Jnr, CEO of Energas West Africa Limited and President of the African Energy Chamber in Ghana
  • Moderator: Kingsley CHE NJI, investigative journalist

Sharing Experiences

The experts shared their concrete experiences in implementing local content in Central Africa, with a particular focus on the oil and gas sector. The goal was also to enlighten the audience on contemporary perspectives and challenges associated with this topic.

Obstacles to Implementing Local Content

Among the obstacles identified by the experts were:

  • Lack of adequate training
  • Insufficient technical skills
  • Absence of a general policy in the oil and gas sector
  • Shortage of implementing regulations

These challenges hinder the effective integration of local content in the Central African sub-region and, more broadly, across Africa. Dr. DEFOUKOUEMOU HIMBE Lamine also published a document revealing the weaknesses of local content in Central Africa and the sub-Saharan region. Another issue raised concerns the youth aspiring to jobs without having received adequate training.

Proposed Solutions

To overcome these obstacles, the experts recommended several strategies:

  • Capacity building through tailored training for local personnel
  • Professionalizing training from university campuses, emphasizing technical skills and adequately equipping laboratories and technical platforms
  • Close collaboration between universities and companies to train young people
  • International partnerships with recognized institutions in other countries, especially for the demanding oil and gas sector

Questions and Answers

The question-and-answer session, moderated by Kingsley CHE NJI, was marked by enriching interactivity between the panelists and participants connected from several countries. The speakers emphasized:

  • The importance of evaluating local resources
  • The need for a solid legal framework
  • Raising awareness among stakeholders and providing continuous training for staff

Areas for Re-skilling and Up-skilling

Several areas for re-skilling and up-skilling were discussed, including:

  • Technical training for specialized trades
  • Development of project management skills
  • Awareness of innovation and emerging technologies

Role of the Government

The crucial role of the government in creating local champions was highlighted, including:

  • Establishing tax incentives
  • Developing public-private partnerships
  • Creating a favorable regulatory environment
  • Imposing financial sanctions and licensing conditions based on compliance with local content commitments

Conclusion

The webinar shed light on the challenges and opportunities related to implementing local content in Central Africa. The discussions highlighted the importance of close collaboration between governments, companies, and educational institutions to maximize local economic benefits.

To learn more and delve deeper into the topics discussed, watch the webinar replay