The Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has disclosed it was following an ‘energy transition pathway’ that combines technology, investment, business strategies and policy.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva made this known on Tuesday, 17th May 2022 at the virtual Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Lagos Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition, with the theme, ‘‘Energy Transition In Africa: A Strategic Pathway To Net Zero”.
According to the Petroleum boss, the aforementioned plan would enable Nigeria transition from its current energy system to a low-carbon energy system with natural gas playing a pivotal role over the next generation, between now and 2060.
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Sylva opined that natural gas was a key resource for energy transition and had all the credentials to support Nigeria and indeed Africa meet up with her commitment with the United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He stated that as a major source of wealth and energy in Africa, the development of oil and gas resources proved critical for the continent’s economic growth and revenue expansion, saying fossil fuels would remain relevant in the energy mix despite ongoing campaigns and global energy transition.
He said, “First off, Africa and the world need oil, and gas for that matter. The world needs oil and gas because it is what the world relies on for its most basic needs. And that will not change overnight.
“Therefore, African governments and leaders should continue to invest in oil and gas, even as we work to help speed progress to a lower-carbon future. The International Energy Agency, on its part, has reversed its calls for lower oil and gas spending.
“In just a few months, the industry think tank group has changed its tune and is now urging oil and gas companies to increase production. Multiple pathways to the energy transition should and must exist in order to ensure that no country is left behind in the process of achieving net-zero by 2060.”
The Petroleum minister further stated that as a continent, Africa needed to be intentional and recognize the need to develop hydrocarbon resources in environmentally and socially responsible ways.
“And as alluded to by the African Union, we need to be realistic in choosing the energy transition pathways which addresses our unique requirements and circumstances.
“We need to enhance policy, legislation and implementation approaches across national, regional, and continental levels, to enable a favourable environment for development. We need to develop bankable projects to scale up access to funding and investment.
“We need to adopt a mix of energy solutions to address the needs of each country including solutions to high tariffs and accessibility to sustainable energy options.
“We need to promote energy efficiency which is necessary for energy transition and focus on building energy infrastructure and strengthening transmission corridors.” he said.
Sylva lauded the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Monday 16th May 2022 between the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) for the creation of a multi-billion-dollar African Energy Bank.
He disclosed the energy bank would provide vital financing for new and existing oil and gas projects, as well as energy advancements across the whole value chain, with the goal of increasing private sector investment in African oil and gas projects, noting that the bank was arriving at a critical time for Africa’s energy sector, following major oil company divestment and a shift in global investment trends.
The problem with Nigeria remains that her various leaders would make brilliant speeches at events, but would fail to subsequently act in line with what they preach at the public sphere. Hence, they are double-mouthed.
Leveraging on technology to create Nigeria’s ‘energy transition pathway’, as pointed out by Sylva, cannot be feasible if formidable policies aren’t put in place and duly implemented.
This is one of the areas borrowing becomes imperative, especially as Afreximbank and APPO sign MOU for creation of African Energy Bank. But it’s pathetic that it’s only in this part of the world that funds borrowed by the government are eventually channeled into recurrent expenditure.