Cape Town. ARDA. 20 years

What a moment.
This wasn’t just another industry gathering – it felt like the heartbeat of Africa’s downstream sector at African Refiners & Distributors Association, (ARDA) all in one place. Conversations that matter. Decisions that shape what’s next. And above all, a shared drive to move the continent forward.

A special milestone this year: 20 years of ARDA.
It all started with an idea – Joel Dervain, now President Emeritus, together with Mark Elliott from CITAC Africa Ltd, had the vision and the determination to build something that didn’t exist yet. He carried it, pushed it, and made it real over the years. Today, ARDA stands as a cornerstone of the industry across Africa.

Huge respect as well to Madame Sidibé, whose leadership as President brings both momentum and clarity, and obviously to Anibor Kragha, the key force behind the scenes, constantly driving initiatives and keeping the engine running.

As for Riverlake…
We don’t show up in Africa.
We’ve grown with it.

For decades, we’ve been on the ground – building, supporting, adapting, staying. Through uncertainty, through transformation, through opportunity.
Not watching from afar – building, supporting, and staying committed.

Because the future of Africa’s energy sector isn’t discussed somewhere else.
It’s built here.

Because what ARDA represents today… we’ve believed in it from the very beginning.

And we’re not going anywhere.
The next 20 years are already starting.