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The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigerian Council,
has called for collaborative efforts in addressing the challenges and
opportunities in the country's energy sector.
In his address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 edition of
Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLEF), the SPE Chairman, Salahuddeen
Tahir, emphasised the importance of collective efforts in addressing Nigeria's
energy sector challenges and emphasised the role of the Oloibiri Lecture and
Energy Forum (OLEF) Series as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and progress
in the industry.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council is a
non-profit professional organization dedicated to the advancement of the
petroleum engineering profession and the dissemination of technical knowledge
in the oil and gas industry.
The Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (SPE OLEF) is
in commemoration of the first commercial oil discovery in Nigeria by Shell
D’Arcy at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State in 1956.
“This year's forum focuses on the theme; Stability in the
Nigerian Energy Sector: Integrated Strategies for Infrastructure,
Transportation, and Security, which underscores the imperative of cohesive
efforts to address challenges and harness opportunities in Nigeria's dynamic
energy landscape,” he said adding the stability in the energy sector is
paramount for sustaining economic growth, ensuring national security, and
promoting environmental sustainability.
Tahir also used the opportunity to express SPE Nigerian
Council’s support for country’s candidacy to host the headquarters of the
African Energy Bank, citing the Nigeria’s potential and leadership in the
energy sector.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kolo Kyari, in a keynote speech,
highlighted the critical importance of bridging the energy access gap to the
creation of economic prosperity of the country. To bridge the energy access gap
in Nigeria, Kyari said that the NNPC Ltd was working on developing the right
infrastructure to deliver oil and gas to drive prosperity for Nigerians.
“We are committed to developing gas infrastructure across
the country; the company’s commitment was not just a statutory requirement of
the Petroleum Industry Act, but a pledge to ensure energy security beyond fuel
supply. We are dedicated to investing in critical infrastructure to enhance
economic prosperity by supplying gas to the domestic market, targeting at least
eight billion cubic meters,” Kyari stated.
In his address, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources
(Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, represented by Engr. Busari Kamoru, stated that the
federal government had identified transportation, infrastructure, and security
as key priority areas in tackling energy deficit in the sector as these will
bring about stability, growth, and sustenance of a better energy sector.
“Nigeria has the potential to transition towards a more
sustainable energy future by improving on the key areas of infrastructure,
transportation and security while also embracing research and innovations
towards renewable energy and fostering collaboration between various
stakeholders,” Lokpobiri said.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon.
Ekperikpe Ekpo, represented by Mrs. Oluremi Komolafe, in his state of industry
address, said that the shift towards gas was not merely an option but a
necessity towards Nigeria’s economic resilience.
“Our enormous gas resources presents a unique opportunity to
diversify our revenue streams to reduce dependence on oil to create a more
robust and sustainable economic foundation,” Ekpo stated.
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