CITAC at ARDA Week 2026 – Celebrating 20 Years of ARDA

13–17 April 2026, Cape Town, South Africa

ARDA Week 2026 marked a very special milestone, the 20th anniversary edition of Africa’s leading downstream energy event. Bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, financiers and innovators from across the continent and beyond, the week provided an important platform for discussions on Africa’s evolving downstream landscape, energy security and decarbonisation pathways.

CITAC was proud to contribute throughout the week through presentations, panel moderation, strategic discussions and workshops.

During the ARDA Week conference

Elitsa Georgieva, Executive Director at CITAC, delivered a presentation on “Africa Downstream Market Developments”, sharing insights into regional supply-demand dynamics and market outlooks.

James McCullagh, Executive Director at CITAC, moderated the panel discussion “Setting the Scene: The Path to 2040 – Fuel, People, Infrastructure”.

Elitsa Georgieva also joined the panel “Securing Our Future: Infrastructure Investments for Energy Security”, contributing to discussions on strengthening resilience and supporting long-term energy security across Africa.

James McCullagh participated in the ARDA Strategic Leadership Roundtable on Advancing LPG for Clean Cooking in Africa, engaging with industry leaders on expanding access to cleaner energy solutions.

David Bleasdale, Chairman at CITAC, spoke on the panel “Advancing Sustainable Finance for Africa’s Downstream Industrialisation”, alongside representatives from leading financial institutions and industry organisations.

Gary Still, Managing Director at CITAC, moderated the panel “Refining the Future: Innovative Pathways for Downstream Decarbonisation in Africa”, exploring practical approaches to reducing emissions across the downstream sector.

Celebrating Commitment to ARDA

During the awards ceremony, Gary Still, Mark Elliott and David Bleasdale were recognised for more than 20 years of commitment and support to the Association, a proud moment for the CITAC team during this landmark anniversary event.

CITAC African Downstream Workshops

Following the conference, CITAC hosted its African Downstream Workshops on 16–17 April 2026, bringing together participants from across the sector for practical discussions and market insights covering:

• International market developments and their impact on the African downstream
• Infrastructure bottlenecks and emerging opportunities
• Managing price structures in a dynamic downstream environment
• The evolving African retail sector and energy transition
• Self-reliance and the future role of refining
• Supply chain management and cash-saving opportunities

The workshops provided valuable opportunities for discussion, collaboration and networking among refiners, marketers, traders, regulators, financial institutions and downstream operators from across Africa and international markets.

We extend our sincere thanks to the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA), our fellow panellists, workshop participants and the many delegates who contributed to such a successful anniversary edition.

CITAC is honoured to continue supporting ARDA and contributing to the growth and development of Africa’s downstream energy sector.

See you again next year!

The CITAC Team

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