The Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) , Dr Bello Aliyu Gusau has seen capacity building as central to the planned energy transition in the country.
Dr. Gusau made this assertion in his welcome address at the just concluded 15th Conference of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) and the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) held at the PTDF office in Abuja.
He said, capacity building has an important role to play in the upward transition, therefore, disclosed the willingness of the Fund to partner with relevant industry stakeholders towards the domestication of the foreign training programmes, so as to meet up with the industry demands.
“The PTDF desires to develop strong relationships with the industry in view of ensuring that the benefits of PTDF capacity building interventions are impeccably achieved through collaborations with stakeholders, sponsorship of research programmes and development of proficiencies in energy economics and other Oil and gas related areas to drive the process of Technology development, acquisition and transfer in the Oil and Gas Industry”, he said.
Dr. Gusau hinted that world-class Centres of Excellence were being developed in-country to cater for the training and research needs of the Nigerian and ultimately, the African oil and gas industry.
Speaking on efforts so far made by the Federal Government towards its commitment to cut carbon emission to net-zero by 2060, he said, “one of the most important steps, the present administration took towards the actualization of this transition was the declaration of a “Decade of Gas’’ in 2020.
“This laudable initiative serves as an opportunity to optimise the nation’s gas derivatives and deepen its market participation via infrastructure development and diversify into petrochemical products.
“In addition, the country’s passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill to law is also a heroic attempt to develop a comprehensive policy framework in Nigeria, the legislation will create the enabling business environment for Oil and Gas companies to profit and protect the environment”, he said.
Also speaking, the NAEE’s
President, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe disclosed that about five billion megawatts of power would be required to bridge the energy deficiency in Nigeria.
Prof. Omorogbe disclosed that Americans are using 284 megawatts per person, painting a picture of severe energy poverty in Nigeria.
She said, “with 200 million people, 13,000 megawatts total installed energy capacity, only 632.4 people in Nigeria can live a good and healthy life”.
The NAEE Czar gave nine (9) ways to a long, healthy life which include: access to electricity, air quality, food supply, wealth inequality, happiness, infant mortality, life expectancy, prosperity, and sanitation.
She however, said that renewable energy mix presents great potential for over 50% off-grid communities in Nigeria and other African countries.
She stressed the need for decisive action to provide access to clean energy.
According to her, “energy access should be just, inclusive, and equitable, with no one left behind”.
