African Petroleum Producers Hint At Stronger Regional Cartel

African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) who met on the sidelines of the OPEC meeting to discuss the deepening of the pan-African energy cooperation in Vienna have hinted at strengthening their ties more to optimise their volatile position in the global oil market.

Their discussions mainly cantered around them moving their headquarters to Brazzaville from Abuja following the Republic of Congo’s assurances that it could host the Organization’s dignitaries and provide the environment required for APPO’s functioning and expansion. 

As African ministers congratulated the delegation of Congo, all participants agreed on the need to work harder to elevate APPO’s debates and reach to the same level as OPEC’s in order to maximize Africa’s energy cooperation and give the continent a stronger voice on the international stage.

It is unclear how they wish to reconcile their resolve with the mighty influence of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Several African petroleum and energy ministers met in Vienna this week, including OPEC Members Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville and Angola to join OPEC efforts in stabilizing the market in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

They were joined by additional members of the APPO forming part of OPEC+ to support the OPEC Resolution and materialize Africa’s support to the Organization’s actions to stabilize global energy markets. 

Jean-Marc Thystere-Tchicaya, Minister of Hydrocarbons of Congo, expressed his satisfaction over the decision to have his country host the APPO headquarters and assured all of Congo’s determination to keep working towards the growth of APPO and committed to hosting an APPO Heads of States Conference in Congo in June 2020.