Energy Transition: Stakeholders Demand Investments in LNG, CNG, Other Cleaner Energy Sources in Nigeria

Ejiofor Alike

Stakeholders in Africa’s oil and gas sector, who gathered at the 8th Energy Summit of Solewant Group, held in Alode Eleme, Rivers State, at the weekend have called on the Nigerian government and other countries in Africa to invest massively in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and other clean energy solutions for the continent’s clean energy transition.

The oil and gas industry experts, in their presentations at the yearly international conference, with the theme: “Pioneering Technology and Innovation for Transition to Sustainable Energy Development in Africa,” argued that Nigeria and other countries in Africa should utilise their abundant hydrocarbon resources to effectively transition to clean energy.

In his paper titled “Unlocking Gas Potential as Catalyst for Energy Transition in Africa,” the High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria, Wendell De Landro, kicked against the continued flaring of gas by oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria.

De Landro, who cited how his country utilised its gas for clean energy, noted 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 needed to build gas-gathering stations to store its abundant gas and adopt clean energy solutions.

He also stated that Africa’s abundant resources have continued to be exploited, adding that Nigeria should stop gas flaring and prioritise clean energy initiatives over continued fossil fuel exploration.

Also, 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, noted that Africa’s experience has proven that the continued use of fossil fuels as the primary energy source had 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

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.

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.”

He also explained 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.