Nigeria should play a leading role in global energy transition in order to achieve net-zero CO2 emission, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva,has said .
Sylva,who said this at the 10th year anniversary celebration of West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) on Friday, in Lagos,also disclosed that government is also taking steps to expand and develop his huge gas resources through enhanced gas exploration, development and utilisation schemes.
Nigeria,he said, has approximately 209 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven gas reserve, with a potential upside of 600TCF.
He added:“This is well placed to take a leading role in providing the much needed gas.Furthermore, the recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) will undoubtedly support Nigeria’s, and indeed the global, endeavor to eliminate energy poverty as envisioned in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).The PIA has generous incentives to enhance the development, distribution, penetration, and utilisation of gas, even as it incentivizes entry into the midstream,” he said.
Sylva said Nigeria and Africa should play a leading role in the energy transformation in order to achieve net-zero emission with natural gas playing a pivotal role.
He said the government should therefore persist in expanding the natural gas industry towards global economic recovery and shared prosperity.
“This is vital, taking into consideration that the current world population of about 7.6 billion is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100, according to United Nations estimates.
“About a half of the increases between 2017 and 2050 is expected from five nations in Africa – Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda,” he said.
On the 10th year anniversary of WAPCo, the minister said its establishment represents the region’s effort at self-development and energy security.
According to him, West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) project objective at inception, amongst others, seeks to improve the competitiveness of the energy sectors in Ghana, Benin, and Togo.
“This is by promoting the use of cheaper and environment-friendly natural gas from Nigeria in lieu of solid and liquid fuels, for power generation and other industrial, commercial, and domestic uses.Ten years down the line, the WAGP has literally become the poster child of economic integration in West Africa.
“The synergy that created this fellowship of industry players, under the public-private partnership banner, is the type we currently preach as an administration.WAGP has contributed tremendously to the growth of the participating countries’ power sectors, boost industrialization, generate jobs, enhance revenue for the state parties, and improve infrastructure development.,” he said.
Mr Greg Germani, Managing Director, (WAPCo) said from conception through construction, all the way through the operational phase of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), Nigeria had constituted a constant and integral, part of the WAGP value chain.
“I also salute the vision and courage of ECOWAS and the commitment it took to navigate the complexities of forging a bond of four diverse nations, with two private concerns, to create this outstanding example of partnership and collaboration.As we traveled the entire stretch of the pipeline system, celebrating the successes and achievements of the WAGP and sharing our stories, I could only pause to marvel at the human spirit.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, 10 years of operations will certainly come with obstacles and challenges.However, WAPCo is now an efficient and dependable natural gas transporter to customers in Benin, Togo, and Ghana, supporting safe, cleaner, efficient, long-term, and secure power generation from gas supply sources in both Nigeria and Ghana.
“WAPCo continues to focus on maintaining an important safety accomplishment that reflects our passion for and commitment to a strong safety culture,” he said.
Speaking,Malam Mohammed Ahmed, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC), said WAPCo had contributed to development, distribution, penetration, and utilisation of gas in Nigeria.
He said though the company had gone through different challenges, adding that it had made different achievements.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Olalere Odusote, said the state government was ready to partner with WAPCo to create more employment for its people.
He commended the management of the company promoting the use of cheaper and environment-friendly natural gas from Nigeria in lieu of solid and liquid fuels.
He assured that the government of Lagos would continue to create conducive environment for business to thrive.
