The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, on Tuesday highlighted the importance of local content development, sustainable practices, and strategic investment in gas infrastructure as critical components needed in shaping Africa’s sustainable energy development.
Kyari, who made this remarks in his speech at the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SIAPEC) in Lagos, harped on Africa’s strategic role in ensuring energy availability, affordability, and sustainability for economic growth.
According to him, to redefine the energy landscape for a sustainable energy future African governments and industry players should focus on key areas such as energy transition, energy efficiency, energy investment, cost efficiency, gas and renewable energy development.
While advocating for policy and regulatory support, regional collaboration and training, as well as technology, innovation, and research, the industry expert said energy demand was expected to rise globally, driven by Africa’s growing population.
Kyari discloses that currently the oil and gas sector is contributing the largest percentage to the continent’s energy mix, with renewable energy sources evolving to improve access to needed energy.
He also spoke on the importance of natural gas in Nigeria’s energy strategy, serving as a major source of power generation and industrial feedstock.
The industry chief further clarified: “Though oil and gas remains a significant component of energy the global energy mix and will remain so even in the next 50 years, NNPC Ltd. is working towards increasing production by unlocking more opportunities across the oil and gas value chain.”
Kyari urged stakeholders in the continent’s hydrocarbon resources industry, including the International Oil Companies (IOCs), to work together in tackling the energy challenges through investment, policy support, and infrastructure development to ensure Africa’s socio-economic growth, and secure a sustainable energy future for the continent.
