The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has emphasised that Africa should not be viewed as a culprit in the effort to end carbon emissions, given its minimal contribution to global emissions.
Instead, he argued that the continent should be seen as a victim of energy poverty, requiring reliable energy sources to meet the needs of its growing population.
Speaking at the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Austria, Senator Lokpobiri stressed that Africa demands consideration from OPEC members and non-members in addressing energy poverty.
He noted that Nigeria and other African countries do not have anything to transition from, as the continent has not been able to end its energy poverty.
According to him, the easiest way for Africa to have a sufficient energy supply is by taking advantage of its abundant oil and gas resources.
Lokpobiri highlighted that Africa contributed only about three per cent of global carbon emissions, yet the continent was often targeted by climate advocates.
He emphasised that the world should exempt Africa from the so-called energy transition for now, explaining that millions of people on the continent lacked access to reliable power supply.
He insisted that Africa has to be treated differently by the global north, given its unique energy challenges.
Meanwhile, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, has announced that the company is targeting 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations by next year.
The initiative aimed to promote the use of CNG as a cheaper and environmentally friendlier alternative to traditional fuels.
Ojulari reassured Nigerians of NNPC’s commitment to working with all arms of government to fulfill the vision of President Bola Tinubu’s CNG initiative.
He emphasised the importance of delivering measurable benefits, affordable pricing, reliable supply, and safe operation to drive customer-centric implementation.
The NNPCL is working to expand its CNG infrastructure, with a focus on major food transportation routes across the country.
The company will partner with licensed conversion centers to ensure public confidence in the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), particularly in terms of safety.
The government has begun rolling out CNG buses for public transportation and setting up refueling and conversion infrastructure across the country.
With over 250 conversion centers nationwide, 100,000 kits acquired by the federal government, and about $525 million investment mobilized so far, the NNPCL is committed to driving the adoption of CNG as a cleaner and more affordable energy source.
