Mr Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum, says Nigeria is well positioned to pioneer future natural gas technology to compete in global markets that are constantly changing.
Sylva made this known at the 2020 Annual Public Lecture organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Bwari branch on Thursday in Abuja.
The theme of the lecture is: ” Inclusive Energy Transition: The Key Issues, Investment Opportunities and Barriers Towards Actualising the Decade of Gas Initiative in Nigeria”.
According to him, Nigeria is blessed with huge natural gas reserves and a highly skilled workforce that can make the country compete favourably with other countries.
He said that natural gas would play a critical and long-term role in achieving energy security and enhance environmental outcomes for Nigerians “as the global energy sector undergoes unprecedented change.
“I want you to hear and remember this, collaborative partnership is the basis and foundation of the Federsl Government’s decade of gas development initiative.
“Individual, corporate bodies and professionals like the Nigerian Society of Engineers and governments at all levels, must develop a new enlightenment, an energy literacy that includes a profound understanding that energy pervades all aspects of our lives.
“Technological innovation, engineering skills will be vital to achieve the aspirations of many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG7 that calls for affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
“Achieving an inclusive energy transition whilst tackling key issues to attract investment opportunities with a view to achieving the Decades of Gas initiative alongside the SDGs will need integrated engineering solutions.
“Engineering solutions that provide resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy, and access to the latest innovative technologies.
‘’It is so fittingly themed because Nigeria has already made strong commitments to embrace this transition, pledging to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
“Nigeria is agreeing on a plan and establishing the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), which will have the power to make policies and decisions on matters relating to climate change in Nigeria to attain zero emission by 2060.
” Nigeria is one of the world’s last energy frontiers, a nation brimming with enormous opportunities.
“As a nation, we are following a transition pathway that combines technology, investment, business strategies and government policy to transit from our current energy system to a low-carbon energy with natural gas playing a pivotal role,” he said.
The minister said that engineers would need to leverage on existing and widely deployed technologies and future developments including next-generation mobile broadband, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, 3D printing and others.
He said with these technologies, engineers would be able to provide the tools for integrated solutions of the decade of gas for a sustainable and just energy transition.
He said the NSE needed to lend its voice to the contributions of engineers in progressing the decade of gas initiative through its network of national and international engineering members.
Prof. Pat Utomi, the Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Values in Leadership, Nigeria called for the development of right and sustainable policy to enable both the public and private sectors play vital role in the oil and gas sector.
Utomi said that Nigerian government should emulate Egypt on solar system development as the country had put in place adequate solar system for power generation.
“Texas known as oil capital of the United State of America has now initiated solar system to generate more energy.”
(NAN)
