By Bisola Adeyemo
President Mu犀利士
hammadu Buhari has declared that Nigeria is ready to face the challenge of the rising global demand for cleaner energy sources.
Buhari made the declaration at the opening of the 2022 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja, adding that the country is already building measures that would ensure seamless energy transition, as the country joins in the race for net zero carbon emission.
Represented at the event by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, Buhari stated that the country would not stop exploring options in dealing with the energy transition, guardian said.
Speaking to global leaders in the energy sector at the event, the President said: “I urge this summit to develop smart home-grown goals for the country’s energy transition. We are waiting to deliberate on the strategy paper from this summit and incorporate critical parts of it into government’s policies where necessary.”
According to him, “Both the marginal fields bid round and the Petroleum Industry Act surmounted over two-decade challenges in the doldrums before they saw the light of the day. For the Decade of Gas initiative, it holds a promise of a prosperous Nigeria for Nigerians.
“You might ask; why would the successful conclusion of the Marginal Fields Bid Round be such a big deal when the world is moving away from fossil fuels? The answer is simple; awarding the marginal fields gives Nigeria the opportunity to speed up its fossil fuel exploitation and make good use of the resources for the betterment of the country rather than abandon the huge oil and gas reserves in the ground”.
“We are fully aware that energy transition raises the bar in terms of environmental, social and governance demands. We do not have to panic. We are already building blocks and bricks that will ensure seamless energy transition as the country joins in the race for net zero carbon emission.
“That is why this administration declared Natural Gas as the transition fuel for Nigeria. Without doubt, Natural Gas ticks all the boxes. We are prepared to face the challenge of the rising global demand for cleaner energy sources”.