Amid the global drive for decarbonisation, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has stressed the need to ensure that the campaign is inclusive.
The Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, presented Nigeria’s and Africa’s energy transition perspective at the WPC Energy panel discussion titled “One Goal, Many Pathways: Navigating Energy Transition in a Changing World.”
The session was held at the Azerbaijan Country Pavilion during #COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, according to a statement posted on its X handle by the NUPRC.
According to her, Africa shares the global net zero goal but begins from a very different starting point. Roughly 600 million Africans still lack reliable electricity, even though the continent contributes less than 4% of global emissions.
She explained that for Africa, the transition must deliver energy access, clean cooking and industrialisation, alongside lower emissions.
For Nigeria, she said natural gas serves as the bridge to net zero by 2060 under the Decade of Gas, with the decarbonisation of how it is produced as the priority.
She cited the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the Commission’s Upstream Decarbonisation Framework and the Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, which has so far awarded 27 of 43 flare sites to convert waste gas into feedstock for power, cooking gas and industry.
She added that Host Communities Development Trusts give communities a stake in the benefits.
Her message to other regions was to put decarbonisation in law, translate it into clear regulations, reward investment, give communities a stake and cooperate across borders.
