The group managing director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mele Kolo Kyari has called on African countries to focus on providing structures that will ensure energy security for their citizens
He was speaking in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital during the third edition of the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS).
“African countries must focus on building structures that ensure energy security for the citizens”. NNPC, he said, is committed to building that structure and has a framework to make sure that the needed energy is available for the needs of the country.
He acknowledged the global clamour for an energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources but, however, noted that hydrocarbons will continue to form the larger part of the energy mix in the foreseeable future.
“Several researches continue to confirm that by 2040, renewables will be contributing about 20 per cent of the global energy mix. This implies that fossil fuels will still contribute at least 70 per cent,” he added.
He, therefore, urged African countries, which are still mostly underdeveloped, to continue to utilise the hydrocarbon resources available to them to develop energy sources for their populace.
“The focus must be on making sure that the energy is clean. We have to use what we have. Today, oil is being found in unexpected places. This contributes to the growth of middle-class consumers. And so the demand for fuel will continue with increase with population and prosperity. Global demands will remain over 100 mmbbl per day,” he commented.
According to Kyari, African countries should focus on the potentials for the renewables, as also largely on the need to deliver energy for the development of their people.
