JOLT at Africa Oil and Power in Cape Town

JOLT CEO and Founder moderating a Panel on Local Content at the Cape Town, Africa Oil and Power Conference

JOLT CEO, Jacqueline Onalo was invited to moderate a panel on Local Content at the annual Africa Oil and Power conference in Cape Town. This invitation is perhaps a small indication of the oil and gas industry shifting its lens. Traditionally a human rights lawyer, international development practitioner, diversity and inclusion expert such as our Founder would merely have been an annoying critic to be put at arms length but there is recognition that this industry must and can change its narrative, partnering with those focussed on sustainable development is the way forward. 

Miss Onalo had meaningful discourse on and off our panel with:

1.         Mrs Nosizwe Macamo, Chairperson, Friburge

2.         Pablo Memba, Managing, GML Group

3.         Arnaud Lebrun

4.         Mâadiou Diallo, CEO, LSCM 

They challenged this industry to go from Buzz Words to Reality. They considered: 

• The evolution in the development of local content in recent years.

• What barriers, constraints exist in this sphere.

• Effective legal framework, strategies and policies.

• Positive examples that the continent and world can emulate. What has worked with specific examples from Nigeria and Senegal.

• The importance of having relevant stake holders at the table, partners not beneficiaries

• Issues around finance with particular reference to banking.

• How the skills gap can be an opportunity for growth.

• The urgent need to build the capacity of local SMEs and communities.

• How we can encourage, incentivise, coerce even compel companies to include local content in their operations? Go from strategy to meaningful implementation.

JOLT CEO pushed the agenda for diversity and inclusion in this male dominated industry. 

Great networks were established and an opportunity to collaborate for sustainable development. 

Whilst it was Black History month in the U.K., it was particularly satisfying for Jacqueline be surrounded by successful Africans, benefitting from an industry whose main beneficiaries are not its people. 

Sustainable development, human rights and rule of law must be part of oil and power in Africa.