Christopher Ekuma
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, says it will explore all energy sources to deliver on its cleaner energy commitment through effective development of abundant gas reserves in the country.
The Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, stated this at the 2021 lnternational Conference of the National Association of Energy Correspondents, NAEC,
The Conference has, over the years, become a platform for key stakeholders to brainstorm and profer solutions to challenges in the nation’s Oil and Gas sector.
In a keynote address, the NNPC boss, Mallam Mele Kyari, who joined the conference virtually, described as timely the theme of the conference, which is “Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, Energy Transition and the future of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas, especially now that the global community is moving towards cleaner energy options.
Mallam Kyari however, said that the capacity of the larger masses to afford cleaner energy must be factored in, hence the need to consolidate on fossil fuel while making a gradual move towards achieving energy mix, where gas resources would play a major role.
Contributing, a Petroleum Economist, Professor Wunmi Iledare, made a case for the Academia to ensure the training of required manpower to maximize the potential inherent in the country’s gas resources.
Professor, Iledare stressed the need for government to look into the recent hike in the price of cooking gas to discourage the larger masses from resorting to dirty energy sources.
On his part, the Chairman of the occasion and fellow, National Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, Mr. Biodun Adesanya, who said that the PIA has provided a working document for the industry, however, advised that the thirty percent allocation to the basins be effectively utilised to explore and develop the needed gas infrastructure for the benefit of the people.
In a presentation, entitled, Deregulation: A panacea for economic challenges in the downstream sector, former Chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, argued that the downstream should be fully deregulated to boost investors confidence which would help in realising the benefits of the sector.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman of NAEC, Mr. Olu Philips, said that the gas potential of the country remained the future of the sector, as the country has kept faith with the climate change protocol agreements.
The well attended conference which witnessed paper presentations and panel sessions by Oil and Gas experts also had presentation of awards to stakeholders for their outstanding contributions to the sector.
