This year’s edition of the Africa Downstream Energy Week, tagged “OTL 2025” is expected to feature ministerial and regulatory panels involving five West African countries, with over 60 speakers across ten strategic sessions addressing issues around investment, finance, technology, corporate realignment and sustainability.
The Chairman of the Advisory Board, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, made this known at a media parley, preparatory to the event scheduled for 26th to 31st of October, 2025 in Lagos.
Oyebanji stresssd the need for more regulatory frameworks that must adapt to emerging realities in the petroleum downstream sector as this year’s Downstream Energy Week brings together the entire petroleum, gas and energy value chain across Africa for high-level engagement, innovation that would enhance policy dialogues.
He described OTL as the continent’s premier downstream energy event, which has, over the past 19 years, set the agenda for the sector’s development not only in Nigeria but across West Africa and the wider African region.
“Yearly, stakeholders come from far and near to interact, deepen relationships and drive business and market growth. Policy and executive action also rely on insights generated from OTL to anchor their engagement with the industry,” Oyebanji said.
The Chairman said that this year’s edition, themed “Energy Sustainability – Growth Beyond Boundaries and Competition,” reflects the rapidly evolving downstream petroleum landscape, where competition and innovation are taking centre stage amid Nigeria’s transition to a deregulated market environment.
According to him, the deregulated regime — long advocated by industry players — is now fully in motion, with stakeholders striving to achieve equilibrium in the new market dynamics.
Despite the challenges and controversies, Oyebanji expressed optimism that market balance will soon be attained, as competition and investment begin to reshape the downstream sector..
He emphasized that as the industry continues to evolve, regulatory frameworks must adapt to emerging realities such as vertical integration and technology-driven operations across the energy value chain.
“When integration begins to happen across the value chain — refining, marketing, logistics and retail — regulation must evolve to address those changes,” he said.
“The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) will not remain static for the next 20 years. It will continue to evolve in response to industry realities, and OTL provides the right platform to trigger such policy reflections.”
The former Chairman of the Major Energy Marketers of Nigeria stressed that countries such as the United States, where companies like ExxonMobil and Shell operate across multiple segments of the value chain, have developed regulatory structures to support such integration — a process Nigeria must also pursue for maximum industry efficiency and value optimisation.
He said that delegates will also witness a major trade exhibition showcasing innovations and services in oil refining, petroleum trading, tank storage, shipping, logistics, LPG, lubricants, petrochemicals, power, financial services and policy frameworks.
“Delegates and visitors will experience a vibrant display of technology and innovation from leading brands across the downstream energy spectrum,” Oyebanji said.
The 2025 edition will include exclusive technical tours to key production hubs, including the Dangote Refinery Complex, and a range of networking sessions, receptions and social events designed to give international and local participants a memorable Lagos experience.
Reflecting on nearly two decades of OTL’s influence, Oyebanji said the platform has remained central to defining Africa’s downstream energy direction — from policy dialogue to operational excellence and investment partnerships.
“OTL has indelibly redefined the downstream energy market, staying at the forefront of setting agenda, promoting business and fostering collaboration. We look forward to another exciting week of information, networking and impactful business deals,” he stated.
The OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week 2025, organized in collaboration with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and other strategic partners, is expected to attract policy leaders, regulators, operators, investors and service providers from across Africa and beyond.
