Mohammed Shosanya
Seplat Energy Plc,says Nigeria’s development will require significant improvements in access to energy.
Lower-cost, more reliable energy will drive job creation, prosperity and social development and achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),according to the company.
Its Chief Executive Officer,Mr. Roger Brown, said this in his keynote address at the ongoing 42nd Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Annual Conference & Exhibition,in Lagos.
He was represented by the Director, New Energy at Seplat Energy, Mr. Okey Mba,who spoke on the Conference theme: Resolving the Nigerian Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth and Affordability.
He said,Nigeria must improve energy access and achieve a balance between equity, security and sustainability; as the country faces the challenges of population growth and lack of economic and social development because of poor energy access.
“Nigeria’s development will require significant improvements in access to energy. With gas, significant development gains can be achieved with minimal impact on emissions. The country must transition away from reliance on biomass and oil as its primary sources of energy,” he stressed.
He advocated the need to make gas as Nigeria’s transition fuel; saying it is proven and accepted as transition fuel in developed North with large local resources in Africa (Nigeria having the largest) and multiple essential uses beyond power.
He explained that Nigeria’s abundant gas reserves offer a local solution to resolving the country’s energy trilemma; given that as gas is developed it is likely the reserves will grow materially. Nigeria has estimated 209 Tcf of reserves by many experts believe it is 2 to 3 times that amount.
“Nigeria’s estimated 40GW(plus) power generation sets (gensets) could be displaced by cleaner, cheaper utility-scale gas and renewables. Every gigawatt (GW) of generator power displaced by cleaner utility-scale gas will decarbonise Nigeria’s energy system and reduce the cost of energy. Our industry must focus on end-to-end solutions to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s gas so we can resolve the energy trilemma,” he added.
