NNPC’s strategy to lead Africa in energy transition, natural gas utilisation: Kyari

*Malam Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Limited, has stressed the compelling need to leverage new technologies and innovation to support energy sufficiency, industrialisation, job creation and economic growth across the African continent

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has emphasised the necessity for Nigeria and other countries on the African continent to leverage technology and innovation so as to stimulate energy access and transition.

ConsumerConnect gathered Malam Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of the NNPC Limited, stressed the need to leverage technology and innovation has become compelling in supporting energy sufficiency, industrialisation, job creation and economic growth.

NNPC Towers, Abuja 

The NNPC GMD/CEO stated this in a lecture titled, “Energy Transition And Energy Accessibility – The New Paradigm”, which he delivered Monday, January 31, 2022, at the 30th Convocation Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA), in Niger State.

Kyari also contended while findings had shown that global transition to renewable energy will definitely continue to gain momentum, the pace may not be fast enough to offset the impacts of worldwide economic expansion and population growth, report said.

According to him, the rising global population especially in Asia and Africa where young people account for almost a half of the population will significantly push energy demand upward where renewable energy sources cannot meet by 2050.

The efforts to transition energy systems would involve changes, not only to energy technologies and prices, but also to the broader social-economic assemblages that are built around energy production and consumption, said he.

Kyari further stated that as global energy consumption grows from the 2018 levels to about 50 percent by 2050, it is apparent that oil and gas would continue to be a crucial component of the world’s future energy.

NNPC determined to achieve carbon neutrality ─GMD/CEO

As a national oil company, the GMD/CEO stressed that the NNPC is determined to achieve carbon neutrality, using Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources as a low-carbon alternative that will help to improve access to energy to power the Nigerian economy.

Kyari also informed the audience at the event that the national oil firm is currently building on the convergence of new technologies and innovative business models that would guarantee access to energy for the future.

The NNPC Chief stated: “To achieve seamless transition to cleaner energy, global players must promote diversification of energy sources to improve global access to energy and reduce absolute number of people without access to energy especially in Africa.

“As Africa’s largest National Oil Company, we are building on the convergence of new technologies and innovative business models to guarantee access to energy for today and tomorrow.”

He further said: “NNPC has set the necessary machinery to lead Africa in transition to low-carbon energy and renewables.

“We are deepening natural gas utilisation under the National Gas Expansion Programme.

“NNPC is currently extending natural gas infrastructure backbone from Ajaokuta in Kogi state to Kano through Abuja and Kaduna under the AKK Gas Pipeline Project.

Kyari as well noted: “This mega pipeline will be fed by both Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) and Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipelines through Oben node in Edo state and deliver 2bscf of natural gas to power plants and industrial off-takers along Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

“As a National Oil Company and a global player, NNPC is ready to take a front seat in the global shift to renewable energy.

“We are taking firm position in this transition by institutionalising the necessary enablers for success.

“NNPC has established a Renewable Energy Division and has completely transformed the NNPC R&D Division to NNPC Research, Technology and Innovation as part of our key initiatives to transit to Energy Company of Global Excellence.”

He said that the NNPC would continue its collaboration with the education sector welcomes beneficial relationship with the academia and industry experts who demonstrate capacity for productive research and innovation in the energy sector.

Oil will remain very relevant in the global energy mix of today and the future, and as transition to cleaner energy gains momentum, especially across the developed countries, oil companies must continuously improve operational efficiency and reduce their costs to remain on the playground, stated Kyari.

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