Page 17 - AfrOil Week 43 2021

AfrOil NEWS IN BRIEF AfrOil

TRAINING
SOGA spearheading

training for Senegal’s oil
and gas professionals

Under the administration of President Macky
Sall, Senegal has put in place a number of meas- sector. SOGA also leverages a number of existing Director at BP (2011-2016) and Anglo-Ameri-
ures to promote the development of local con- partnerships with research institutions around can (2011-2015). He also served previously on
tent as part of the country´s long-term economic the world to make sure that the latest develop- the Boards of Nedbank and Old Mutual in South
development programme, the Emerging Senegal ments with regards to innovation and R&D are Africa.
Plan. The Senegal Oil & Gas Academy (SOGA) reflected in the curriculum. Currently, Phuthuma is Chairman of
is aligned with this plan and has had a major During the upcoming Oil, Gas & Power Phembani Group, an investment group which
impact in developing a new generation of oil and MSGBC 2021 Conference & Exhibition, taking he founded in 1994, and is Chairman-desig-
gas professionals throughout the country. place in Dakar in December, one of the main top- nate of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Ltd.
SOGA offers a range of programmes that are ics of discussion on the agenda is the promotion Phuthuma is also a non-executive Director of
designed to be inclusive towards all levels of edu- of local content and capacity building initiatives South African downstream energy company,
cation and has been key in leading employment underway that will enable Senegal to become Engen Petroleum, and a non-executive Director
generation in this increasingly dynamic sector of self-sufficient in terms of having a well-qualified of IHS Towers, the NYSE-listed Emerging Mar-
the Senegalese economy. national workforce to shape the development kets Telecom Infrastructure Provider.
Dakar has been an educational hub for and the rapid growth that will be taking place in Phuthuma is a South African national and
many decades and has some of the best techni- the oil and gas sector over the next decade. holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from Ohio State
cal universities in West Africa. When Senegal Energy Capital & Power, October 22 2021 University and an MBA from Atlanta University.
struck large-scale offshore oil and gas deposits Dorothy Thompson, Chair of Tullow Oil plc,
in 2014-2017, it became evident that there was commented today: “Phuthuma brings to Tullow
a pool of already qualified technical labor who MOVES excellent and relevant experience, having suc-
only needed to slightly re-purpose their skills cessfully built a truly pan-African business. He
in order to become readily employable in many Phuthuma Nhleko is a widely acclaimed business leader with a deep
areas of the oil and gas value chain, either directly understanding of Africa and a broad set of rela-
by the IOC´s and oil and gas services compa- appointed non-executive tionships across the continent. He also brings
nies, or alternatively, working for Senegalese or experience from listed companies across a num-
regional companies as subcontractors – meeting chairman of Tullow Oil ber of international markets, including the UK
local content requirements. This is a competitive and Africa.
advantage that SOGA has used in crafting its Tullow Oil is pleased to announce the appoint- “Phuthuma joins Tullow at a key moment in
curriculum and ensuring that it can help train ment of Phuthuma Nhleko as an independent its development. With a stable balance sheet and
graduates that will have good job opportunities non-executive Director and Chairman-desig- a clear strategy underpinned by a commitment
in many areas of the oil and gas sector. nate of Tullow. Phuthuma will join the Board as to Net Zero by 2030 and to responsible and safe
SOGA offers a variety of either in-person or a non-executive Director on October 25, 2021, operations, Tullow is well-positioned to re-es-
online modules in a variety of disciplines that are and will take over as Chairman of Tullow from tablish itself as a leader in Africa. Phuthuma will
in high demand, as Senegal prepares for first oil Dorothy Thompson, CBE, following a suitable play an important part in supporting Tullow’s
over the course of 2024. These include Upstream handover period and after Dorothy steps down ambitions to be a partner of choice for Govern-
and Downstream Project Management, Petro- as Chair and retires from the Board by the year ments and our industry peers as the African oil
leum Markets and Trading, Maintenance of end. and gas sector evolves over the coming decade.”
Production Facilities, Drilling and Comple- Phuthuma brings extensive emerging Phuthuma Nhleko, Chairman-designate
tion Techniques, as well as Safety of Petroleum markets experience to Tullow having worked of Tullow Oil, also commented today: “I am
Installations. successfully across Africa over the past three very pleased to have been appointed as Chair-
Another factor that has made SOGA par- decades. Phuthuma was Chief Executive of man-designate of Tullow, a company I have fol-
ticularly competitive is that it has developed MTN Group, the leading pan-African tele- lowed with much interest since its inception. I
a network of partner institutions in countries communications company, from 2002 to 2011. am impressed with the successful turnaround
that have well developed oil and gas and min- During his time with MTN, the Group grew rap- and transformational refinancing that allows
ing industries such as Canada, the United States, idly in Africa and the Middle East, gaining over Tullow to build on its strong position and repu-
France, Germany, Morocco and Singapore, 185mn subscribers to become one of the largest tation within the African oil and gas sector.
among others. These international partner- listed companies in Africa. In 2013, Phuthuma “I believe Tullow is uniquely placed to develop
ships enable the students from SOGA to carry returned to MTN as a non-executive Director the oil and gas resources of its host countries effi-
out a portion of their studies abroad and gain and Chairman until 2019. This included a period ciently and safely while minimising its environ-
exposure to invaluable international exper- as Executive Chairman from 2015 to 2017. He mental impact. I look forward to supporting the
tise and a network of contacts. Another of the remained part of the international advisory Tullow team as they grow the business, deliver
advantages is that by training with these various board for the business until August 2021. Shared Prosperity and create value for our inves-
international institutions, the certifications are After stepping down as Chief Executive of tors, staff, host nations and communities.”
globally recognised throughout the oil and gas MTN in 2011, Phuthuma was a non-executive Tullow Oil, October 25 2021

Week 43 27•October•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P17