African Pipeline
Resource Network
APRN exists to strengthen Africa's pipeline future through research, engineering development, industry collaboration, and strategic capacity building.
Building Africa's Pipeline Intelligence Infrastructure
A pan-African initiative coordinating the technical, policy, and human capital requirements for the continent's growing energy and utility networks.
The Continental Challenge
Addressing the critical gaps in Africa's energy transit ecosystem to ensure sustainable development.
Skills Gap
Critical shortage of certified pipeline engineers, integrity specialists, and advanced welders locally.
Aging Workforce
Impending retirement of senior experts without sufficient knowledge transfer mechanisms in place.
Infrastructure Losses
High rates of product loss due to aging assets, vandalism, and inadequate monitoring technologies.
Fragmented Coordination
Lack of unified standards and poor collaboration between operators, regulators, and academia.
Rising Energy Demand
Exponential population growth requiring massive expansion of reliable utility transit networks.
Our Ecosystem
What APRN Builds
Pipeline Research
Advancing material science, flow dynamics, and localized engineering solutions for African terrains.
Training & Certification
Standardizing competency frameworks and delivering world-class technical training programmes.
Policy Advisory
Guiding regulatory frameworks to ensure safety, environmental compliance, and investment readiness.
Data Observatory
Maintaining the continent's most comprehensive GIS repository of active and planned pipeline infrastructure.
Projected pipeline investment across Africa by 2030
Senior pipeline roles currently filled by non-African talent
Active cross-border pipeline corridors tracked
Kilometres of pipeline infrastructure mapped
The People
Leadership
Pieter-Bas Nederveen
Advisory Committee Member, Senior Energy Advisor
Pieter-Bas Nederveen is a Senior Energy Advisor and member of APRN's Advisory Committee, bringing extensive international expertise in energy sector development, infrastructure strategy, and institutional advisory. He contributes strategic guidance to APRN's continental programme and supports the network's engagement with global pipeline and energy governance bodies.
Lucy Okeke
Founder & Executive Director
Lucy Okeke is the founder and executive director of APRN — the African Pipeline Resource Network. A NMDPRA (Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority) Regulator and Industry Lead, Lucy is the first African woman to serve on the Advisory Committee of the Pipeline Technology Conference (PTC Berlin) — the world's premier pipeline conference, attracting 1,000+ delegates from 51 countries annually. Her dual role as a regulatory authority insider and global pipeline knowledge governance figure gives APRN a credibility profile unmatched by any other African organisation. She leads APRN's strategic direction, international partnerships, and the WIMEE Africa initiative.
Joseph Agwuh
Head, Technology and Innovation
Joseph Agwuh is a Civil Engineer and the digital architect behind APRN's operational infrastructure. He leads APRN's applied research programmes, technical documentation, digital platforms, and industry database development. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering and brings hands-on experience in digital strategy, web infrastructure, AI-powered research tools, and pipeline sector intelligence across Africa.
Our Purpose
“Africa's infrastructure future requires African engineering capacity”