About 16 delegates of the African Refiners Association ARA, met in Douala recently, to address some vital issues which are of great importance to the Association.

The meeting hosted by Cameroon’s National Oil Refining Company, SONARA, took place on October 24-25, and had as its focus deliberations on the general functioning of the Association.

SONARA’s General Manager, Ibrahim Talba Malla while welcoming the delegates expressed happiness for their commitment in ensuring that ARA and indeed the refinery sector in Africa remains very competitive.

Though the meeting was held behind closed-doors, The Sun gathered that the deliberations were quite fruitful. Talking to the press, the president, Pierre Reteno N’Diage from Societe Gabonese de Raffinage said their discussion centered on seeking solutions to problems plaguing the association, review of work done so far by the various work groups, the budget and the upcoming General Assembly which would hold in March 2015 etc.

On other issues, the delegates who came from Gabon, Angola, Sierra Leone and Cameroon, deliberated on issues like insecurity and the Ebola Epidemic.

Pierre N’Diage explained that it is necessary to sensitise members on the gravity of the Ebola epidemic and the precautions that can be taken in fighting it, due to its dreaded nature which does not spare even the refinery sector.

This October meeting it should be recalled is a follow-up to that of August 2014 which was again hosted by SONARA, and which focused on Project Management.

The African Refiners Association was founded in 2006 and its role is to give a voice to African Refiners. The Association has quickly become the voice not just of refineries but of all downstream oil in Africa.

The objective of ARA is to harness the synergies and solidarity which exist in the downstream oil industry by encouraging its members to discuss and exchange ideas and experience in all areas of oil refining, distribution and supply.