The World Petroleum Council (WPC), leading global organization on oil and gas, will be holding its globally attended Congress in South Africa on September 25-29,the first time the organization holds its tri-annual Congress on the African continent in the 72-year history.

According to organizers, it is appropriate that an African country is hosting this year's event, given the intense exploration and drilling activity on the continent and "the congress is also a perfect place to showcase what South Africa and Africa have in terms of energy resources."

South Africa is the host country and PetroSA the host company, while the National Oil Corporation of Libya, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Sonangol (Angola) and Sonatrach (Algeria) are the co-hosts of this most prestigious industry, and truly African, event.

With giant proven oil and natural gas resources, many African countries such as the host and co-host countries, are already major energy suppliers in world terms, while new energy powers such as Egypt and Equatorial Guinea are experiencing rapid growth,and hotspots such as Mauritania are emerging as exploration pushes new frontiers.

The following are some of sub-Saharan Africa's major oil producers, pumping about 4.5 million barrels of oil per day:

Nigeria: 2.5 million barrels per day.

Angola: 902,000.

Equatorial Guinea: 350,000.

Gabon: 289,700.

Chad (via Cameroon): 200,000.

Republic of Congo: 235,500.

Cameroon: 67,000.

Cote d'Ivoire: 33,000.

Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Source: Xinhua