With his participation, Kragha is expected to share insights into the MSGBC region’s downstream industry, which is set for expansion amid new crude supplies, rising domestic demand and ongoing infrastructure upgrades. Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry are seeing increased investment in refining capacity, storage and distribution networks, creating new opportunities for investors, operators and local communities.

ARDA Executive Secretary Anibor Kragha to Speak at MSGBC 2025 Amid Downstream Growth

In June, Mauritania’s government signed a landmark exploration and production contract with the Taqa Arabia-GoGas consortium to develop the Banda and Tevet gas fields, estimated to hold a combined 2.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. The $1 billion investment encompasses the full value chain – from extraction to power generation – including the construction of a 180 MW dual-fuel power plant north of Nouakchott.

Senegal is advancing an ambitious expansion of its downstream infrastructure through the SAR 2.0 initiative, with the state-owned Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR) having signed an agreement with Sedin Engineering – a subsidiary of China National Engineering – to explore the construction of a second refinery paired with a petrochemical plant. The project aims to dramatically boost refining capacity from the current 1.5 million tons per year to 5 million tons, while integrating a petrochemical complex to produce high-value products such as plastics and chemicals.

Meanwhile, West Africa’s oldest refinery – the SAR refinery in Senegal – is undergoing major upgrades, as it currently meets 50% of market demand in terms of energy production. The Senegalese government is in discussions with pan-African finance institution the African Export-Import Bank to obtain $500 million in syndicated finance to increase annual production from 1.5 million to 3.5 million tons of refined petroleum products. In addition to the SAR refinery, Senegal is exploring additional downstream projects, including a LPG gas storage facility, which is currently under feasibility studies.

As such, Kragha is well-positioned to leverage the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 platform to highlight the role of ARDA in advancing regional refining capacity, financing solutions and cleaner fuel adoption. His participation underscores how coordinated downstream investments can enhance energy access, industrial growth and regional trade integration. By bringing Africa’s refiners, distributors and policymakers together, ARDA aims to accelerate a sustainable downstream future for the MSGBC region and the continent at large.

“ARDA’s participation demonstrates the growing momentum in Africa’s downstream sector. The MSGBC region is uniquely positioned to leverage its resources, meet domestic demand and attract strategic investment that will shape the next decade of refining and distribution,” states Sandra Jeque, Project Director, Energy Capital & Power.