The Africa Oil Week has temporarily been moved to Dubai for this year's edition, said the event organisers, The Hyve Group.
 
Rubbishing the media reports on its replacement, The Hyve Group confirmed that the 2021 edition of Africa Oil Week will be held from November 8 to 11 in Dubai and their mandate remains the same – to stimulate upstream deals and transactions and help drive investment into the African upstream sector and facilitate new partnerships and networking opportunities as per their 27-year history and legacy.
 
AOW clarified that it does not have any partnership or connection to Africa Energy Week, nor the organisers Africa Energy Chamber. 
 
The Hyve Group also slammed the false media articles which stated that the event would be run in Cape Town, despite the ongoing Covid-19 curbs on events by South African government.
 
The organisers said AOW is set to reunite the African upstream industry in November with over 57% of countries across the continent sending ministers of energy, including: Mauritania, Ghana, Senegal, Namibia, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
 
The event also hosts industry CEOs across the energy value chain, along with sponsors TotalEnergies, Chevron, ENI, Equinor, Africa Oil Corp, Seplat and Famfa.
 
"After a hiatus in 2020, this year’s event is more important than ever for our industry to reconnect. AOW will unite our attendees face-to-face under the theme 'Succeeding in a Changed Market' as we embrace the energy transition for the sustainable future of the African Upstream," said Paul Sinclair, its VP of Energy and Government Relations.
 
"Our attendee’s safety was our number one priority in temporarily moving the event to Dubai for this year’s edition . South Africa has entered a fourth national lockdown and this includes the temporary banning of events nationwide by law. Furthermore, our regular venue, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has recently been utilised as a mass vaccination centre for which we send them our best wishes and continued support," he noted.
 
Sinclair said he wanted to reassure the public and stakeholders that AOW would return to Cape Town in 2022 and beyond.
 
“To show our long-term commitment to Cape Town, our natural home, we’ve signed a three-year deal until 2024 with the CTICC,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service