COP 28: NNPC GCEO, Kyari makes strong case for just energy transition for Africa

As conversations on finding sustainable solutions for a decarbonized energy future continue to hold globally, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari has said the African Continent needs “a just, differentiated transition” to enable it to harness its resources for today for the benefit of its future generations.

The GCEO made this known while speaking at a Regional CEO Panel organised by McKinsey & Company on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Conference on Climate Change (UNCCC), also known as the COP28 Conference, in Dubai, UAE, on Monday.

The GCEO, who joined other global energy leaders from the United States, Holland, and Oman to highlight energy perspectives and insights on the evolving energy market, said the world must understand Africa’s peculiarities in addressing the effects of climate change on energy businesses.

“I have always advocated for a differentiated and just energy transition. In Africa, we have different circumstances compared to other places in the world.

In Africa today, 75% of our population doesn’t have access to electricity, leaving us with biomass as a key energy source. The world needs to recognize that the most practicable thing today is to substitute what we have in the short term to close the energy gap for our rising population,” he stated.

With Nigeria forecasted to be among the global top 10 economies by 2035 and 3rd in terms of the global population by the same year, the GCEO said it is critical that the energy poverty question be discussed as nations unite to achieve net zero by 2050.

According to the GCEO, with abundant natural gas reserves of 206 trillion cubic feet (tcf) that have the potential to rise to 600tcf, Nigeria is currently utilizing gas to drive its journey towards energy transition.

He said that NNPC Ltd. is creating a regional gas pipeline network to supply natural gas across the African continent and boost its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply to the foreign market.

Explaining that NNPC Ltd. is currently eliminating gas flares in almost all its gas projects, Kyari said the idea is to deploy such gas towards developing power plants nationwide, which will boost nationwide electricity supply, create employment opportunities, and trigger the nation’s industrial and economic development.

He said that to demonstrate NNPC Ltd’s commitment to a net-zero future by 2025, the Company recently signed up as a participant in the United Nations Global Compact in New York, becoming the first state-owned oil company to join the global initiative

.FG sponsored 422 not 1,411 delegates to Dubai –Minister

In response to public outcry, the Nigerian government clarified its COP-28 delegation to Dubai, UAE emphasizing transparency.

 

According to Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, the Federal Government-funded group comprises 422 individuals, including representatives from the presidency, the office of the vice president, the National Council on Climate Change, the Federal Ministry of Environment, all ministries, the National Assembly, and federal parastatals/agencies.

 

Minister Idris highlights Nigeria’s significant role in climate action, citing achievements from the ongoing climate summit such as a strategic pact with Germany to enhance electricity supply, President Tinubu’s plans for the Nigeria Carbon Market and Electric Buses, and substantial contributions from the Loss and Damage Fund.

 

He underscored Nigeria’s history of climate action initiatives, including being the first African country with an Energy Transition Plan and a Sovereign Green Bond. Minister Idris clarified that the delegation is in Dubai for “serious business, not a jamboree.”

 

The government faced criticism for having the fourth-largest delegation to the summit, with 1,411 registered delegates from Nigeria.

Breakdown of the 422 Nigeria Delegation to COP28 ,National Council on Climate Change = 32, Federal Ministry of Environment = 34, All Ministries = 167, Presidency = 67, Office of the Vice President = 9 , National Assembly = 40 , Federal Parastatals/Agencies = 73

.Why I decided to attend UN climate change conference virtually – Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that he was invited to attend the 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC commonly known as COP28, but opted to join the conference virtually on account of the reforms initiated to develop the State’s digital economy.

In a chat with BBC Pidgin, the governor who reeled out a list of achievements recorded in the last seven years of his administration in the State, noted that the state has transitioned to paperless work mode which has made working in Edo civil and public service flexible, better and more productive.

According to him, “I was invited to attend the COP28 in Dubai, but I told them I am going to join them virtually. We have a lot to showcase in the state as regards climate change. We are tackling deforestation, planting trees and preserving our land. Illegal tree logging is causing erosion in the state and we are determined to end the trend. It is still raining in December; there is climate change and we are working to protect our people.”

 

Obaseki noted that the state is massively investing in the digital economy especially with investment in digital infrastructure and manpower development.

 

He said: “In terms of technology, we have trained 6 cohorts of 100 students each on software engineering. Some of them are working for blue-chip companies from Edo here. We have deployed 2000km of fibre optic cable infrastructure across the State’s 18 local government areas. That is why we are able to go fully paperless in the State’s civil and public service.”

As NUPRC unveils regulatory framework for energy transition, decarbonisation, others

 

However, The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has unveiled the Regulatory Framework for Energy Transition, Decarbonisation and Carbon Monetisation  for upstream operations in Nigeria.

The unveiling was at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference 2023 (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The commission’s Chief Executive (CCE), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, made the announcement in his keynote address at a roundtable discussion themed “Driving Sustainable Upstream Operations to Achieve Just and Equitable Energy Transition”.

Komolafe, in a statement on Monday said the commission was championing the decarbonisation of upstream operations.

This is to sustain investments for energy security and economic development in line with national aspirations and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The CCE said that the framework was hinged on seven pillars including; Natural Gas Shift, zero routine gas flaring and methane abatement.

Others are carbon market development, technology and innovation, upstream operations efficiency, incentive mechanism, collaboration and risk management

“I urge all stakeholders, government agencies, operators, international development partners and multilateral agencies to join us as we progress the steady implementation of the Framework within the coming months, which will be underpinned by applicable Directives, Guidelines, and Regulations.

“Interestingly, the implementation of the Regulatory Framework has already commenced on the heels of the introduction of the Gas Flare, Venting and Methane, Prevention of Waste  and Pollution Regulations 2023.

“This provides the renewed legislative basis to take firm actions on gas flaring, venting and fugitive emissions,” he said.

Similarly, the implementation of the 2022 Guidelines for Management of Fugitive Methane and Greenhouse Gases Emissions in the Upstream Oil and Gas Operations in Nigeria, which was inaugurated at COP27, is achieving commendable outcomes.

Furthermore, Komolafe highlighted the success of the ongoing execution of the Nigeria Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) as a major climate action initiative for Nigeria in the nation’s energy transition pathway.

He said the NGFCP projects, when fully executed, would mop up 50 per cent of Nigeria’s flares accounting for an equivalent of 6-7 Million tonnes of CO2 emission per year, in addition to significant socio-economic impacts.

While acknowledging the considerable support of international development partners on the NGFCP, the NUPRC boss called for enhanced assistance from climate action stakeholders in technical areas, project financing/funding, carbon credit earning framework and capacity building.

During the ensuing discussion, the participants exchanged ideas on how Nigeria can attain climate neutrality through energy transition and the implementation of decarbonisation measures.

In attendance were Claire Wang, Office of the U.S Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, Martina Otto, Head of Climate and Clean Air Coalition, UN Environment Programme, Jonathan Banks, Global Director, Clean Air Task Force, and Mrs Funmi Ogbue, Managing Director, ZIGMA Oil and Gas, among others.