Energy Transition: Tinubu Canvasses Better Cooperation with US

•FG seeks technology transfer as US pledges support for Nigeria’s decarbonisation efforts

Deji Elumoye and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has called for a stronger and better cooperation with the United States, as Nigeria and the rest of the world move in the quest for renewable and other sources of clean energy.

He spoke yesterday, during a meeting with United States Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Energy Resources, Ambassador Geoffrey Praytt, at the State House, Abuja.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, Tinubu presented his own perspectives to the US delegation on the role of Nigeria as an oil producing country and the importance of revenue from fossil oil to national economic well-being.

Nigeria, according to the president, would honour all its obligations to climate change and quest for clean energy.

Tinubu appealed to the United States and other developed nations to recognise that Nigeria and Africa have a challenge of poverty that must be addressed, saying in the race for energy transition, the world must have a right balance between the fossil fuel and green energy.

He said: “Nigeria is an oil producing nation and a developing economy that needs revenue from fossil fuel for growth and development. The new energy we are talking about represents just five per cent of global energy requirements. We must find the right balance between new energy and fossil fuel because we have problem of poverty in Africa.”

On the nexus between the challenge of poverty in Africa and fragility of democracy on the continent, the president admonished the United States to work with Nigeria to protect the government of the people.

He also urged the Assistant Secretary of State to impress on his home government the urgency of responding to the needs of Nigeria.

According to him: “Our democracy needs protection like all other democracies in the world. We cherish our partnership with the US. My concern is whether United States is giving us enough as much as we need.

“The US should not make us hungry to the point we will have to eat the dinner of our enemy.

“We need the funding support to help us drive and accelerate our energy diversification. There are bottlenecks that must be unbottled in terms of how the US bureaucracy responds to our needs. Help must be given when it is needed. We are ready to learn and develop to join 21st century economy. Please take it home that we need help and very quickly too.

“I am honoured with your recognition of the baby steps we have taken so far. I want to assure you that Nigeria will honour her obligations on climate change and renewables,” the President said.

Earlier in his remarks, Praytt, extolled the bold economic initiatives already taken by Tinubu with respect to fuel subsidy removal and unification of multiple foreign exchange rates.

He said he was in the country partly to inform the president that President Joe Biden was in support of the steps taken so far by Nigeria to reduce the impact of fossil fuel.

“We are opening a new page in US relations with Nigeria.  Nigeria is taking important steps in growing the renewable energy to meet the need of her citizens.

“We are very happy with our work with NNPCL and your team. Your new Special Adviser on Energy is already doing very well,” the US Envoy said.

Also in his introductory remarks, Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, told the President that the Energy Industry in Nigeria had been engaging the US Department of Energy on the energy transition.

Kyari acknowledged the support the Nigerian government received from the US Department of Energy to develop the Petroleum Industry Act.

Kyari, said one way the US could assist Nigeria was in the area of access to modern technology to help curb emissions.

He stated that he was aware of the support being rendered by the US in ensuring Nigeria produces cleaner fuels, stressing that as a country with serious energy supply shortfall, Nigeria will need all the help it can get in that respect.

While lauding the visiting team led by Pyatt, for the progress made in discussions so far and supporting efforts to reduce emissions, Kyari noted that with a huge population, Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.

He also acknowledged the support rendered by the United States government in the process of getting the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to become law.

With the ongoing global energy transition, Kyari explained that the support could be in the form of accessing technology for decarbonisation as it has become obvious that flare sites in the Niger Delta were reducing.

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the 2060 net-zero pledge, but noted that Nigeria needs to have an early exit from the  current challenges in the sector to be able to achieve that.

The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NURPC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, in his comments at the event, stated that as part of the activities of the NUPRC, it has keyed into the global direction and was doing everything possible to ensure cleaner exploration of its hydrocarbons.

While thanking the US for the support, the commission, he said, was already embarking on gas flare-out activities towards decarbonising the environment, stressing that the awardees for the programme will be announced soon.

Also, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, highlighted the need for knowledge sharing in automation and regulation, among others, assuring that the NMDPRA was fully in on ensuring a smooth energy transition.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum, Mr. Gabriel Aduda, in his opening remarks, said that the meeting was to further the cause of Nigeria’s collaboration with the United States to ensure a safer, healthier world and a greener environment.

In September last year, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, was also in Nigeria to engage in discussions with the federal government and the private sector regarding strengthening climate action.