By Chioma Iruke
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Engr. Simbi Wabote has informed that huge capital, behavioural changes and commitment by leaders are key ingredients for Nigeria to achieve zero carbon emission by 2050.
Simbi made the statement on Thursday while speaking at the SEPLAT Energy Summit in Abuja themed: ‘Global Trend In Energy Transition, The African Perspective’.
Simbi noted that the world was facing oil crisis, and that for the 2050 objectives to be achieved, “it will not be by eliminating carbon totally, but by transitioning.”
“It was not until 1859 that oil eclipsed coal and 1940 for oil to become the dominant energy source, thus to make zero carbon emission, it would not happen overnight.
“The world is facing oil crisis especially in Europe and it is a dilemma for them because they are the highest consumers. For us in Africa and Nigeria especially, we are looking at gas. It would not be wise to totally abandon our natural resources. We would not make the mistake we had with coal so we are looking at transitioning, but we can’t achieve this if we continue to sit down, talk, and do nothing,” he noted.
On his part, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, strongly condemned the notion of a single energy transition pathway, insisting that Nigeria was working on her own objectives which included the production of 600 cubic feet of natural gas to provide clean energy, as well as basic societal amenities.
The Minister thus, noted that fossil were a base load of energy source in the African region, and that Nigeria is adopting gas as both its transitional energy and destination. “We have always said as a country that we are not in any way against energy transition, what we are concerned with is the pace,” he said.
Similarly, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo represented by the Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, noted that the transformation of the energy sector would have societal benefits if handled in a careful and inclusive manner.
Chairman, SEPLAT Energy PLC, Dr A.B.C Orijiako, stated that SEPLAT was committed to redefining carbon emission. He added that Africa had the largest people without electricity, thus, carbon emission was not the only area to focus on.
Endorsing SEPLAT, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, highlighted that “Nigeria is always under pressure because we keep importing what we can produce here. SEPLAT is aware that we can produce most of these things.”
Others stakeholders present at the summit were traditional rulers, the GCEO Nigeria Stock Exchange, the MD Total Energies Nigeria LTD and the Edo State Governor who joined virtually.
