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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Experts in the energy sector have said that Nigeria and Africa at large need to utilise their natural resources to effectively transition to clean energy.
They spoke at the 8th Energy Summit of Solewant Group, held in Alode Eleme, Rivers State, at the weekend, with the theme: “Pioneering Technology and Innovation for Transition to Sustainable Energy Development in Africa.”
In his paper presentation titled “Exploring Oil Sector Innovations for Energy Transition in Africa,” the Dean of the School of Engineering Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Remigius Uche, posited that Africa’s experience has proven that the continued use of fossil fuels as the primary energy source has failed to address the continent’s energy challenges, especially in Nigeria.
The professor of mechanical engineering stated that despite possessing about 125 billion barrels of oil reserves, which constitute about 7.2 percent of the world’s total crude, and 17.89 trillion standard cubic meters of gas as reported in 2023, Africa’s per capita energy consumption is lower than the global average.
He stated that for Nigeria and Africa to effectively achieve their energy transition plans, they must adopt a robust sustainable development strategy and utilise emerging and clean energy sources such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and carbon capture technologies, for which the resources are abundant.
Also presenting a paper titled “Unlocking Gas Potential as Catalyst for Energy Transition in Africa,” the High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria, His Excellency Wendell De Landro, criticised Nigeria’s continued flaring of gas.
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Giving an example of how his country has utilised its gas for clean energy, De Landro stated that the Nigerian government has failed to stop multinational oil companies from flaring gas due to a lack of political will.
The High Commissioner, who formerly worked with Shell, said Nigeria needs to build gas stations to store its abundant gas and adopt clean energy solutions.
He also stated that the global north has continued to exploit Africa and its resources, adding that Nigeria needs to stop gas flaring and prioritise clean energy initiatives over continued fossil fuel exploration.
Earlier in his address, the Group Managing Director of Solewant Group, Mr. Solomon Ewanehi, stated that the summit was a premier platform for advancing innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in Africa’s energy sector, reflecting the company’s unwavering commitment to driving transformation in the energy landscape.
He also highlighted that the summit was designed to drive innovation in energy technology and sustainability, foster collaboration between industry stakeholders, policymakers, and academia, and explore pathways to tackle Africa’s energy challenges while boosting opportunities.
Ewanehi said: “With the theme for this year’s summit, the event underscores the urgent need for adaptable, forward-thinking solutions that meet Africa’s unique energy demands while supporting global sustainability goals.”
