By Oko Ebuka

As a Pan-African initiative dedicated to the promotion of business, policy and stakeholder relationships in downstream petroleum markets across the continent,  the  Oil Trading and Logistics Africa, OTL (Downstream sector),  has indicated moves to establish a shipping cluster in the West African region.

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They have also called on governments of member countries to consider the modalities of making the entire Gulf of Guinea (GoG) a Safe Anchorage Area (SAA), with a framework that allows cross border patrol and surveillance in the region.

Speaking to newsmen during the  12th  edition of OTL Africa Downstream week held in Lagos the Nigerian maritime stakeholders, in an official resolution, also said that they are  focused on achieving regional hub status, while encouraging Maritime Administrators in West Africa to benchmark their rates, tariffs and levies against those obtainable in other regions in order to improve competitiveness and attraction for maritime services.

The OTL Africa Downstream Week is an annual event of the continent’s leading business forum for market insights, emerging opportunities, products’ showcase and recognition of excellence in the African downstream petroleum value-chain.

It also features the participation of operators in the entire downstream oil and gas value chain including refining, trading, shipping, marketing, storage, retail, infrastructure, professional services, equipment supply and government.