Africa must leverage the endowment of its abundant gas resources to meet its energy needs and drive sustainable development, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said.
Ekpo spoke at the at the inaugural Africa Gas Innovation Summit (AGIS) 2024 hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council in Abuja on the theme: “Igniting the Future: Driving Sustainability in Africa’s Energy Landscape through Gas Technology and Innovation.”
The Minister was represented at the two-day event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nicholas Agbo.
With challenges posed to most economies by the energy supply constraints, the Minister said developing sustainable energy sources was no longer a choice, but an imperative for Africa.
“With its endowment of abundant natural gas resources, Africa stands at a pivotal juncture, which Nigeria must play a leading role, to take advantage of the opportunity to leverage these resources not only to meet its energy needs, but also to drive sustainable development,” he said.
The transition to a sustainable energy future, he pointed out, demands that Africa embraced innovative technologies and practices that minimise environmental impact, while maximising efficiency and productivity.
This, he said, entailed investing in cutting-edge research, promoting the deployment of advanced gas technologies, and encouraging the adoption of best practices across the industry.
He identified technological innovation at the heart of the continent’s endeavours, adding that from exploration and production to transportation and utilization, advancements in gas technology are revolutionizing the sector.
Besides, he said innovations in liquefied natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles, gas-to-power solutions, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) constitute just a few examples of how technology is reshaping the landscape.
He called on policymakers across the continent to create an enabling environment that fosters innovation by providing incentives for research and development, facilitating partnerships between industry and academia, and ensuring a robust regulatory framework that would encourage technological advancement, while safeguarding public and environmental health.
Effective policy frameworks, he insisted, were the bedrock of a thriving gas sector, adding that these policies must be forward-looking, adaptable, and inclusive.
In addition, he said these policies must address the unique challenges and opportunities of the African context, promote transparency and accountability, and ensure the benefits of the gas sector were equitably shared among all stakeholders.
He emphasized the need for the policies to align with global sustainability goals, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, by positioning Africa as a leader in the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
“Our success hinges on our ability to develop a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Capacity building must be at the forefront of our agenda. This involves investing in education and training programmes, promoting technical and vocational education, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
“By equipping our people with the skills and expertise needed to thrive in the gas sector, we can ensure that the benefits of our natural resources translate into long-term economic growth and social development,” he said.
Again, he identified entrepreneurship and innovation as the engines of economic growth, adding that Africa must encourage and support entrepreneurs who are developing sustainable business models in the gas sector, particularly in the areas of providing access to finance for the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), mentorship, and market opportunities, as well as creating a regulatory environment that nurtures innovation and enterprise.
He said the Africa Gas Innovation Summit 2024 marked a significant milestone in the continent’s journey towards a sustainable and prosperous energy future.
“By embracing gas technology and innovation, shaping effective policy frameworks, unlocking financing avenues, nurturing capacity building, and cultivating entrepreneurship, we can ignite the future and drive sustainability in Africa’s energy landscape,” the Minister said.
In his introductory remarks, the Chairman of Society of Petroleum Engineers, Salahuddeen Tahir, emphasized the need to utilize Africa’s abundant gas resources to drive economic growth and prosperity, adding that AGIS was conceived to become a premier annual gas event in Africa to be held in rotation across African State to highlight the huge potentials in the sector.
Tahir said this year’s event involved five key stakeholders, namely government, industry, academia, entrepreneurial community, and venture finance institutions which have resolved to work together to find solutions to the energy challenges facing the continent.
He said Africa’s energy landscape was at a critical junction with the imperative need for sustainable solutions to serious industry challenges, including financing, technological and skills gap, high costs of oil and gas production, infrastructure, global push for transition to cleaner energy as well as security issues.
“Africa needs to urgently innovate for the benefit of our industry, our respective economies and our citizenry,” he said.
“Our easiest path to a sustainable future lies in our gas resources. The shortest path to developing these gas resources is through collaboration as a window of opportunity for Africa’s gas industry,” he added.
He cited the ongoing collaborative initiatives like the proposed multi-billion dollar Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and the Tanzanian-Uganda Gas Pipelines, stressing the need for more of such projects and initiatives.
The SPE Chairman described the Establishment Agreement and the Charter for the Africa Energy Bank executed on June 4 by AFREXIIMBANK and the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) as a forward-thinking initiative that must be supported by all African Gas producers.
He said the theme of the Summit speaks volumes about Africa’s collective mission and underscores the continent’s commitment to harnessing the potential of gas as a catalyst for sustainable development, economic growth, and environmental stewardship.
The hybrid event was participated by the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, who was represented by the company’s Executive Vice President Gas, Power and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, while the Director General of ONHYM-Morocco, Madam Amina Benkhadra delivered a virtual message from her base in Morocco.
The AGIS led by the SPE Nigeria Council iwas n collaboration with professionals and gas organisations, including the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Africa Energy Chamber, Nigerian Gas Association, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Engineers, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Decade of Gas Secretariat, the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Institute of Petroleum and Energy Studies, the NNPC, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the Nigerian Midstream-Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
