The Federal Government has said that it was focusing on exploitation of gas to close the gap that can be created by less use of petrol, diesel and other fossil fuels, following the gradual exit from fossil fuels.
The Chairman, Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC), Mrs Margrey Chuba-Okadigbo, stated this in her remarks at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas in United States, last Wednesday.
The conference was anchored by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), the umbrella body of all the indigenous oil services companies in Nigeria.
According to Chuba-Okadigbo, gas as a transition fuel would not only bridge the energy gap to be created by exit of fossil fuels, but enhance economic development.
A statement by PETAN made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, quoted Chuba-Okadigbo as saying that the conference would arm the Nigerian team with the requisite knowledge and latest technology.
This, she said, would help to tackle energy issues as the energy industry players face increasing need for clarification of the implications of energy transition on their operations and business models.
The NNPC board chairman said that the conference was also to explain the contributions needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to achieve the goals and commitment of Paris Accord and the COP 26.
She said that the increasing social and environmental pressures on many energy companies raise complex questions about the role of oil and gas in a changing energy economy and the positions of those companies in the various societies where they operate.
To her, as the world moves to substitute fossil fuel with other forms of cleaner energies, Nigeria is still faced with numerous challenges in ensuring energy security, deepening domestic gas utilisation and maximising revenues derivable from hydrocarbon resources.
According to her, as world and business leaders join in the global solidarity against climate change and reduction of carbon emissions, NNPC Ltd., is taking giant strides in lowering her carbon footprints, sustaining energy security and driving prosperity in Nigeria.
She said: “We believe that achieving and sustaining a carbon neutral economy requires inclusive policy actions that guarantee access to finance and low carbon technology.
“Recently, Nigerian witnessed the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2012, which guarantees a reasonable return on investments; promotes business and operational transparency, and proffers better fiscal regimes than it was in the past.
“In effect, this Act provides the legal framework and guarantees investors’ confidence.
“Therefore, it is expected that much more significant change in overall capital allocation would be required to accelerate energy transition, especially in getting some key capital intensives, clean energy technologies to reach maturity.”
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of PETAN, Mr Nicholas Odinuwe, said the theme of the workshop: “Energy transition and the future of Africa”, underscores the fact that Africa is said to the last energy frontier and global hub as there is a global energy revolution and the quest for alternative and cleaner sources of energy.
However, he said, developing countries were keeping an open mind in the choices of their energy mix as they take cognisance of what best works for their heterogeneous populations.
According to him, “energy access is critical, so is funding, and so to fulfill the needs of the industry and secure future investment and energy security in Africa, emphasis should be on collaboration, entrepreneurship, innovation and funding”.
He reminded the gathering that many African countries, companies, and individuals had made huge investments in the energy sector and the economy of many African countries depends largely on stakeholders.
“It is expedient that the region begins to examine those critical issues and proffer solutions on how to properly position the sector for maximum economic transformation.”
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr Simbi Wabote, stressed that African countries must leverage on the robust platform and opportunities presented by African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which according to him, was key to drive home the Local Content narrative to achieve sustainable growth and development in Africa.
While commending the foresight of the league of African leaders that adopted the AfCFTA agreement in 2012, he noted that the AfCFTA has become an enabler for deepening African Local Content practice beyond national borders to enable project delivery and development of natural resources.
Speaking on the theme: ‘Cross-Border Service Integration As Enabler Of Project Delivery In The African Oil And Gas Industry’, the NCDMB boss noted that the AfCFTA is “Africa’s move to harmonize it’s markets for economic integration across all 55 member states with the objective of tapping into the Gross Domestic Product of over $3trillion.”
He noted that with the official commencement of AfCFTA, and the focus on addressing some of Africa’s “teething” problems, the prospect of opportunities among African businesses is gathering momentum, thus, Africa must not be left behind in developing its own response to the prevailing challenges.
Wabote commended the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and other key stakeholders for bringing together participants to this year’s OTC to have a robust strategy session on African Local Content, “especially against the backdrop of the ongoing energy transition narrative and the shifting dynamics of the security of energy supply across the globe.”
“From Kenya to Malawi, from Uganda to Nigeria, and all over the continent, I have always seen AfCFTA as the practice of local content at the continental level,” he added.
During his presentation, Wabote made it clear that to drive Local Content in the Oil and Gas industry, and any other sector, six key parameters must be looked at.
He listed them as: “Regulatory Framework, Gap Analysis, Capacity Building, Funding and Incentives, Research and Development, and Access to Market.
“A law or decree, depending on the political arrangement in a country, sets the framework and boundaries for all local content practitioners.”
This, he said, is “better than directives, or policies that are enshrined with the pretext of pushing the boundaries of local content.”
He further noted that in Nigeria, the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, ensures the compliance of local content requirements.
He informed the audience that to this effect, the NOGICD Act established the NCDMB as the sole agency for Local Content implementation in the oil and gas industry, adding that the newly passed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), further re-enforces the practice of Local Content in the industry.
Wabote told the gathering that the NCDMB has now moved Local Content in Nigeria to 42percent from the less than 5percent that it was before the enactment of the Local Content Act in 2010.
He, therefore, urged African nations and businesses to take advantage of the opportunities and platform provided the AfCFTA.
“Why can’t we take advantage of the opportunities within Africa? I can tell you that it comes cheaper easier and can be delivered expeditiously. It is my sincere hope that our sister countries take full advantage of this rather than going over to Houston, across the Atlantic or the Pacific in search of capacity development.”
Wabote added that Angola has enacted an Act of Local Content, taking a cue from the success story of Nigeria’s Local Content drive.
Key players of the oil and gas industry who gathered at the conference included: Chairman, NNPC Board,Sen. Margaret Okadigbo; Managing Director, Chevron,Richard Kennedy; PETAN Chairman,Nicholas Odinuwe; Chairman of Platform Petroleum Limited, High Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs; and other top captains of industry in Nigeria and Africa.

By: Nelson Chukwudi