In Abuja, Nigeria, the Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Market convened on July 22, 2025, gathering key players from across the region’s downstream oil sector.
Hosted jointly by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and S&P Global Commodity Insights, the two-day summit focused on forging a unified path towards establishing a regional fuel refining hub.
Leading the Guinean delegation was Mr. Sory Keita, Director of the Downstream sector at the National Petroleum Company (SONAP), representing the Director General.
His participation underscored SONAP’s commitment to embedding Guinea within the growing momentum of regional cooperation and regulatory transformation in Africa’s oil industry.
From the podium, Mr. Keita reaffirmed Guinea’s ambition to spearhead sub-regional energy integration. “This conference provides a vital platform to explore the potential development of a benchmark market in West Africa,” he said, highlighting key pillars such as regional harmonization, pricing mechanisms, data transparency, and infrastructure development.
Mr. Keita candidly addressed challenges faced by Guinea’s downstream sector, citing the devastating 2023 fire at Conakry’s main depot that disrupted storage and distribution nationwide.
“This crisis revealed our system’s weaknesses but also the vital importance of regional cooperation,” he noted, praising neighboring countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Senegal for sustaining critical supply chains during the emergency.
Looking ahead, SONAP is accelerating reforms with projects to enhance storage capacity, including new coastal and inland depots designed to meet rising domestic demand—especially from the expansive Simandou mining operations—and position Guinea as a regional energy hub serving landlocked neighbors.
“Developing a West African benchmark market with harmonized standards and shared governance is no longer optional—it’s a strategic necessity,” Mr. Keita urged, emphasizing the need for collaboration among governments, regulators, operators, and private partners to overcome common challenges.
Concluding his address, Mr. Keita affirmed SONAP’s readiness to engage fully in regional initiatives that promise greater stability, efficiency, and growth for the West African oil sector.
As the conference continues, SONAP’s proactive stance exemplifies Guinea’s evolving role within the continent’s ambitious energy integration agenda.
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