Argus Africa Roads Conference

• Ongoing and upcoming road development and maintenance projects
  
  
• Where will the funds come from?
  
  
• What opportunities are there in this market for local and international firms such as contractors, subcontractors, bitumen traders and future investors?

• The latest updates on upgrades of N2 and N3 freeways
  
  
• What are the opportunities for market players?

• Identifying plans for ongoing and emerging road products
  
  
• Assessing opportunities for regional and international stakeholders
  
  
• Overcoming the source-to-consumer logistical challenge

Session participants:

• Chidi Izuwah, General Director and Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigeria
  
  
• Krishna Naidoo, Principal Engineer, Public Transport Infrastructure, Transport for Cape Town, SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency)
  
  
• Elias Mwape, Chief Executive Officer, Road Development Agency, Zambia
  
  
• Professor Stephen Krygsman, Associate Professor, Department of Logistics, Stellenbosch University

Topics to be addressed include:

• What are the challenges facing road funding in Africa? 
• Are PPP projects positioned to demand improved standards, suitable specifications for paving designs?
• What hedging tools can be designed for this market to sustain road budgets?
• What are the prospects for possible solutions such as pay as you drive, distance-based tolling, etc?

Session participants:

• Frank Ramsay Lartey, Chief Executive Officer, Platinum Seal and Core Construction, Ghana
  
  
• Ivanilson Machado, General Manager, Puma Energy Mozambique
  
  
• Michael Ohiani, Director, Public Private Partnerships Department, The Presidency, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigeria
  
  
• Ronnie Muthusamy, Bitumen Sales Specialist, Chemicals and Special Products Department, Engen
  

Topics to be addressed include:

• Which countries in Africa are expected to see economic growth and capital spending on road development and why?
  
  
• What lessons can be learned from those regions?
  
  
• Consistent supply of quality bitumen — transportation and storage across the region
  
  
• What are the main concerns for market participants at this point?
  
  
• Is a global or local approach more likely to provide opportunities?
  
  
• How are advances in technology impacting these opportunities?

• Assessing the initial impact of the IMO 2020 regulation on bitumen quality, the availability of different bitumen grades and contract structure
  
  
• Understanding the initial impact of the IMO 2020 0.5pc sulphur cap on marine fuels
  
  
• Which stakeholders have been affected most? How have their trade strategies changed?

• What opportunities exist for complex refineries? How will they ensure there is enough compliant fuel available to meet new demand?
  
  
• How will refinery capacity and utilisation evolve with these changes?

• What are the different technologies for residue processing and the possibility of combining the advantages of these technologies?

• Update on Russian tax changes and regulation that will affect Russian bitumen export flows
  
  
• Where are the most profitable regions to send new supply?
  
  
• How to effectively address challenges in transportation and delivery logistics

Session participants:

• Dhruv Nanda, Bitumen Trader and Downstream Business Development Manager, MENA Energy
  
  
• Charles Nyagah, Commercial Director, Cinergy

Topics to be addressed include:

• How will developments in the freight market impact bitumen trade and shipping?

• New challenges in bitumen transport and logistics — what are the unique requirements of the African region?
  
  
• What are customers looking for?
  
  

• What new technologies are available to help reduce costs?
  
  

• What incentives do bitumen traders require to invest in a fully-fledged bitumen terminal?
  
  
• What lessons can be learned from those regions that have bitumen terminals?
  
  
  

Join 15-20 of your peers and discuss the prospects for doing business across different countries in Africa. You can use the champagne round-tables to ask any questions or to examine a topic that came up earlier in the day in more depth.

Round-table one: South Africa — In a changing world how can we incentivise refineries to continue to produce bitumen?
Leader: Keyvan Hedvat, Europe/Africa Editor, Bitumen, Argus

Round-table two: Nigeria — Identifying new opportunities and key lessons learnt in the market
Leader: Michael Ohiani, Director, Public Private Partnerships Department, The Presidency, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigeria

Round-table three: Kenya/Uganda—Exploring polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) development and demand in these countries. Key strengths and weaknesses

Meet influential regional and global decision makers drawn from road construction groups, road authorities, bitumen producers, trading firms and innovative service providers in a relaxed and convivial setting.

• The good and bad lessons learnt from international standards
  
  
• What do road construction companies and contractors need to consider when using it?

On-stage interviews with

• Dickson Ndhlovu, Director for Planning and Design, Road Development Agency, Zambia
  
  
• Frank Ramsay Lartey, Chief Executive Officer, Platinum Seal and Core Construction, Ghana
  
  
• Anton Beloshapkin, Head of New Markets Development, Gazpromneft–Bitumen Materials
  

Topics to be addressed include:

• Key causes of road deterioration
  
  
• Overcoming challenges to improve road longevity
  
  
• What specification of bitumen is best suited for the construction of roads taking into consideration the African climate?
  
  
• Road maintenance — what are the latest, most cost-effective and reliable ways of maintaining roads?

• Assessing available WMA technologies
  
  
• What are the benefits? 
  
  
• What are the challenges encountered in using the material? How to address them effectively?
  
  
• What does the future hold for the industry?

• Key growth drivers and changing market dynamics across the continent
  
  
• Key strengths and weaknesses of PMB
  
  
• Which countries in Africa are looking for improved performance from PMBs? What are the recent initiatives and next steps?