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Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has made history as the first African to deliver the opening keynote address in the 21-year history of the Pipeline Technology Conference (PTC), using the landmark platform to declare Africa the world’s next great frontier for pipeline investment and infrastructure.
Speaking before more than 1,200 delegates from 50 countries at the annual Berlin forum — the world’s leading gathering of pipeline operators, regulators, and technology providers — Minister Ekpo positioned the continent not as a spectator in the global energy transition, but as its most consequential emerging stage.
“Africa is no longer a passive participant in the global energy story,” he told delegates. “We are the new frontier for pipeline maintenance, new projects, and cross-border infrastructure that will power industrialization and energy access for 1.4 billion people.”
A $150 Billion Call to Action
At the heart of his address was a direct appeal to the engineers, financiers, and technology firms in the room: Africa’s pipeline sector represents a $150 billion investment opportunity over the next decade, and the continent is ready for partnerships that match its ambition.
Ekpo pointed to Africa’s more than 600 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves as a resource still waiting to be fully mobilised — but only through modern, safe, and technology-driven pipeline networks. He called on global players to bring innovation in leak detection, integrity management, and digital monitoring to help extend the safety and lifespan of African energy assets.
“The era of deferred maintenance and project delays must end,” he said. “Africa is open for partnerships that bring innovation… to extend the life and safety of our assets.”
Nigeria at the Centre
Nigeria, he argued, is already leading the charge. Ekpo highlighted the country’s Decade of Gas initiative, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Pipeline, and a growing portfolio of regional projects designed to connect West Africa to European and global markets — presenting Nigeria not merely as a gas producer, but as the continental anchor for Africa’s pipeline ambitions.
Following his keynote, the Minister joined a panel of global industry leaders to formally open the PTC exhibition, which showcased cutting-edge solutions in pipeline integrity, robotics, corrosion control, and digital transformation.
‘The Voice of Africa’
The reception among delegates was striking. Conference observers described Ekpo as “the voice of Africa” — a characterisation that reflected both the rarity of African representation at the highest levels of global energy convenings and the forcefulness of his message.
That an African minister was delivering the opening address for the first time in over two decades of PTC history was itself noted as a signal of the continent’s rising weight in global energy infrastructure dialogue.
For Nigeria, the moment carried particular significance. As Africa’s largest gas producer, the country has long argued that its gas resources — and the pipeline networks to carry them — deserve far greater international attention and investment. Minister Ekpo’s Berlin address put that argument on one of the industry’s most prominent stages.
The 21st Pipeline Technology Conference was held in Berlin, Germany. The annual forum convenes over 1,200 pipeline experts globally to address challenges and innovations in pipeline design, construction, maintenance, and safety.
