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The aim of this project is to achieve lasting and inclusive development outcomes in emerging oil and gas producer countries. The group helps governments manage their finite petroleum resources effectively, think beyond oil and gas, and better inform and engage with the public.

This project takes as its starting point that governance recommendations gain better acceptance if designed by producer countries. The annual discussion group creates a space for information sharing and an honest appraisal of governance challenges among producers. The discussion group has built a strong network and community of practice among emerging producers. 

This project helps emerging petroleum producers:

  • Elaborate sound policies to govern their nascent petroleum sectors. The project develops practical guidelines for making effective decisions about the structure and rules of the petroleum sector in an imperfect context. It also develops practical tools to support policy implementation.
  • Develop a peer-to-peer network through which they can share information with other producer countries.
  • Build capacity at various levels of government and in national oil companies thanks to free training sessions led by experts, technical exchanges and mentoring relationships between producer countries.
  • Improve intra-regional cooperation, through workshops that bring emerging and established producers together to share their experiences and lessons learned.
  • Improve understanding of the petroleum sector among national stakeholders thanks to in-country seminars and training sessions. National seminars create a space for a national dialogue on the key objectives of the petroleum sector and its role in the development agenda. 

Discussion groups

The project hosts an annual five-day New Petroleum Producers Discussion Group in one of the member countries. The discussion group includes technical advisory groups, emerging producers and more established producers, as well as non-governmental organizations and industry representatives. The annual meeting includes a two-day international discussion, interactive training sessions, a national seminar for the host country to debate policy issues and public information sessions.

Help desk function

The project operates an active help-desk. Emerging producers can request help or feedback on a specific issue by contacting Valerie Marcel.

Technical exchanges

The project brings countries together for technical and policy exchanges. These include mentoring relationships between officials from emerging producers, focusing on specific technical issues. The group also brings together officials and experts from our member countries to work collaboratively to develop practical policy tools.

Strategic input 

The project provides strategic input for emerging producers tackling new policy issues or reforming an existing legal or institutional framework. The assistance draws on the recommendations of our project and case studies of what other emerging producers have learned. The group can also provide balanced comments on legislative documents or strategies. Support includes experts from other emerging and established producer countries.

The group can also help with roadmaps for institutional reform. This type of input can help at an early stage, with clarifying the objectives that guide these plans and anticipating possible obstacles to their successful implementation. 

Partners and contributors

The project is co-organized by Chatham House, the Natural Resource Governance Institute and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Knowledge partners include: the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Oil for Development (NORAD), Norwegian training group Petrad, the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, the Van Meurs Corporation, Clyde & Co, Swale House Partners, the African Natural Resources Center (at the African Development Bank), Schlumberger and the British Geological Survey.

The New Producers Group is a non-profit initiative, independent from commercial interests. In 2018 we benefitted from sponsorship from the Oil for Development programme, NRGI, Commonwealth Secretariat, Shell, Tullow Oil, Kosmos Energy, ExxonMobil, GNPC and the Petroleum Commission of Ghana, and Ghana Oil and Gas for Inclusive Growth (GOGIG). Our member countries also support our work.
 

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