Olusola Bello
The group managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has urged the industrialised nations not to put Africa in the same energy transition speed as this could spark an energy crisis.
The NNPC boss Kyari, gave the advice on Monday while throwing more light on how the company has positioned itself to lead Africa in energy transition.
He made the remarks while delivering the 30th Convocation Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
Kyari who spoke on the topic ‘Energy Transition and Energy Accessibility – The New Paradigm’ during the event held inside the university’s auditorium in Minna, said: “Putting every country in the same energy transition speed could therefore result in unanticipated collateral damage that can spark energy crisis and deny developing countries access to available and cheaper energy for growth.”
Explaining the company’s strategy for a smooth and realistic energy transition, he said the NNPC has set the necessary machinery in motion to lead Africa in transition to low-carbon energy and renewable.
The company, Kyari said, was deepening natural gas utilisation under the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).
He said the NNPC is currently extending the natural gas infrastructure backbone from Ajaokuta in Kogi State to Kano through Abuja and Kaduna under the AKK Gas Pipeline Project.
Besides, the NNPC boss explained that this mega pipeline would be fed by both Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) and Obiafu-Obrikam-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline through Oben node in Edo State, and deliver 2bscf of natural gas to power plants and industrial off-takers along Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.
He declared that as a national oil company and a global player, NNPC was ready to shift to renewable energy.