In a global context marked by the energy transition and profound changes in hydrocarbon markets, the 3ᵉ edition of the Oil Days opened this morning in Dubai. Organised by 3M-Partners & Conseils, this meeting, which has become a must for pan-African energy cooperation, brought together more than 300 participants from over ten African countries, international experts and private operators, around a central issue: building sustainable and concerted energy sovereignty for the continent.
From the outset, Gacyen Mouely, co-founder of the firm and initiator of the event, laid the foundations for an ambitious strategic dialogue. In his speech, he went back over the origins of the Journées Pétrole, created in 2023 in response to the common challenges faced by African states: unbalanced negotiations of Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs), lack of regional coordination and weak contractual control.
The urgency of these issues was illustrated by a striking testimony from his career as an oil auditor: in 2014, during an assignment, tax and customs penalties were unduly included in the reimbursable expenses of an operator, on the pretext that "nothing in the contract prohibited this". This situation is symptomatic of the structural flaws that this pan-African event is now seeking to correct.
The theme of this year's event was "Negotiating and monitoring Production Sharing Contracts", and it was designed to be resolutely operational. The conference focused on two major themes:
- Negotiation: integrating legal, fiscal, technical and environmental dimensions to balance the balance of power between states and companies.
- Contractual monitoring: through cost audits, technical verifications and impact assessments, essential for guaranteeing transparency and optimising local added value.
Unlike previous editions, which were reserved for public players, this 3rd edition also welcomes consultancies, entrepreneurs and private investors. "This is proof of the maturity of the dialogue and a mark of confidence", said Mr MOUELY, emphasising the importance of public-private collaboration in building African energy sovereignty.
S&P Global, the global benchmark in sedimentary basin valuation and data management, marked this year's event with its participation, underlining the international scope now acquired by the Journées Pétrole.
Another major development is the opening up of the forum to private firms, entrepreneurs and investors, alongside public decision-makers. Gacyen Mouely welcomes this new maturity: "It's a mark of confidence and a sign that African energy issues can only be tackled through inclusive, cross-disciplinary cooperation.
This dynamic demonstrates that energy sovereignty cannot be the sole responsibility of governments, but must involve all the players, from regulation to technological innovation.
With more than 1,500 assignments carried out in a dozen countries, from the Congo to Côte d'Ivoire, via Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, 3M-Partners & Conseils embodies this ambition to support African states towards more rigorous and efficient governance of their natural resources.
This year's event was supported by a number of strategic partners, including Global Mind Consulting, which has been with the initiative from the outset, for corporate communications, and Omed Voyage for delegation logistics. Media coverage, provided by Africa 24, Vox Africa, Gabon Média Times, Or Noir Africa and Le Soleil, gave a pan-African flavour to the initiative.
In closing, Gacyen Mouely delivered an unambiguous message: "The question is no longer whether Africa can influence the global energy transition. The real question is: are we going to build this influence together, or suffer it separately?"
The Journées Pétrole, which run until 30 May, offer African decision-makers a unique forum for consultation, training and negotiation, with the aim of aligning the continent's resources with its sustainable development objectives and strengthening its voice in international bodies.