Mr. Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), has underscored the crucial role of bridging the energy access gap in Nigeria to foster economic prosperity.
Speaking at the 2024 edition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (SPE OLEF) in Abuja on Thursday, Kyari emphasized the need for integrated strategies to ensure stability in the energy sector.
In his keynote address titled “Stability in the Energy Sector: Integrated Strategies for Infrastructure, Transportation, and Security,” Kyari outlined NNPC Ltd’s commitment to developing robust gas infrastructure across Nigeria.
“We are committed to developing gas infrastructure across the country,” Kyari stated, stressing that the company’s commitment was not just a statutory requirement of the Petroleum Industry Act, but a pledge to ensure energy security beyond fuel supply.
“We are dedicated to investing in critical infrastructure to enhance economic prosperity by supplying gas to the domestic market, targeting at least 8 billion cubic meters,” Kyari added.
The NNPC Ltd CEO outlined key infrastructural projects aimed at bridging the energy access gap, including the Obiafu/Obrikom/Oben (OB3) and Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipelines, designed to bolster the nation’s gas supply network. Kyari also discussed NNPC Ltd’s global endeavors, including the NLNG Train 7 project and initiatives to kickstart Train 8 and floating LNG projects.
Calling for support to leverage Nigeria’s abundant gas resources for economic prosperity, Kyari assured stakeholders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the gas revolution. He emphasized the importance of addressing access gaps in electricity and clean cooking fuel, aligning with national development objectives.
Engr. Salahuddeen Tahir, Chairperson of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, stressed the pivotal role of energy in modern society, advocating for a diversified and sustainable energy transportation system to mitigate climate change and enhance energy security.
The 24th edition of the SPE OLEF forum aims to contribute to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry policy development, commemorating the first commercial oil discovery in Nigeria at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, in 1956 by Shell D’Arcy.
