The Nigerian Federal Government has asserted that gas will continue to play a significant role in the country’s energy mix until 2030. Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, conveyed this message during the recent Society for Petroleum Engineers Nigeria Council 2023 conference held in Lagos.
Despite the commitment to achieve the United Nations’ 2060 zero emission goals, Nigeria plans to utilize its abundant gas resources for community development. Key projects, such as the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited’s Train 7, Nigeria-Morocco, and Ajaokuta gas pipeline initiatives, are expected to contribute to this goal.
Mele Kyari, representing the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, emphasized that Nigeria does not intend to move away from fossil fuels. Instead, the focus is on growing gas reserves from 209.5 trillion cubic feet to 600 trillion cubic feet in the near future. The NNPC Limited considers gas a transition fuel and aims to expand gas development and infrastructure across the country to enhance energy accessibility.
Various speakers at the conference stressed the importance of cleaner energy and achieving energy sufficiency in Africa. Eloho Aiboni, the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company emphasized the need for a mix of energy sources to achieve the 2060 net-zero target.
In a goodwill message, Gbenga Komokafe, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, expressed the authority’s collaboration with the Federal Government to unlock the potential of natural gas.
