By Orkula Shaagee
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPCL), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with oil, gas stakeholders, as well as address challenges in the sector.
NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Malam Mele Kyari, gave the assurance on Monday at the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) in Lagos, with the theme
“Building Africa’s Future: Advancing Local Content and Sustainable Development in the Oil and Gas Industry”.
Kyari, who was represented by Mr Udobong Ntia, Executive Vice President (EVP) of NNPCL’s Upstream Division, emphasised the importance of timely investments and resilient energy systems for socio-economic development across Africa.
He highlighted the conference’s significance in facilitating discussions on investment prospects, cooperation, and advancing common objectives for the region’s energy future, particularly regarding local content and sustainable growth.
According to him, the conference is a crucial platform for stakeholder engagement and opportunity identification.
Kyari showcased the progress of Nigeria’s gas export market, citing the ongoing NLNG Train 7 Project, which he added, would boost Nigeria’s LNG production capacity to 30 million tons per annum (MTPA).
He said the planned Nigerian-Morocco and Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline projects would supply gas to neighbouring African countries and eventually to Europe, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a major global energy player.
Kyari also emphasised the need to balance energy transition with energy security, stating that the oil and gas industry remains a significant component of the global energy mix and would continue to be crucial for the next 50 years.
NNPCL, according to Kyari, is focused on increasing production, developing gas infrastructure, expanding refining capacity, and driving sustainability initiatives.
“Energy demand is projected to rise globally, driven by Africa’s growing population.“As part of our efforts to contribute to a cleaner energy future, Nigeria has declared the decade from 2021 to 2030 as the Decade of Gas, aiming to build a gas-powered economy,” Kyari said.
He said that NNPCL is making substantial investments in critical gas infrastructure, including the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline and the OB3 gas interconnector, designed to facilitate five billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscf/d) of domestic gas utilization and five GW of power generation capacity.
Kyari further stressed Africa’s strategic advantage in meeting its energy needs and reducing reliance on energy imports.
He also underscored the importance of regional collaboration, innovation, and investment in energy efficiency, adding that it would be key to ensuring the continent’s long-term energy sustainability.
Earlier, Mr Wole Ogunsanya, Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), expressed happiness in hosting the event, which brought together top industry experts from around the world.
Ogunsanya emphasised the role the oil and gas sector plays in driving economic growth and energy security across the region.
He noted the association’s commitment to advancing Africa’s energy future through strategic partnerships and collaboration with governments and key stakeholders. (NAN)