In a compelling address at the Regional CEO Panel during the COP28 Conference in Dubai, NNPC Ltd.’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, emphasised the urgent need for a “just, differentiated transition” to address Africa’s unique energy challenges.
The GCEO made this known while speaking at a Regional CEO Panel organised by McKinsey & Company on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Conference on Climate Change (UNCCC), also known as the COP28 Conference, in Dubai, UAE, on Monday.
Kyari urged the global community to recognise Africa’s distinctive circumstances in combating the impacts of climate change on energy.
“I have always advocated for a differentiated and just energy transition. In Africa, we have different circumstances compared to other places in the world.,” he stated.
Highlighting Africa’s energy disparity, Kyari noted that 75% of the continent’s population lacks electricity access, relying heavily on biomass. Stressing the importance of substituting current energy sources to bridge the gap, he called for a pragmatic approach to address the energy needs of Africa’s rising population.
With Nigeria poised to be among the top 10 global economies by 2035, Kyari underscored the critical nature of discussing energy poverty as nations strive for net-zero emissions by 2050. Leveraging Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves, currently at 206 trillion cubic feet with potential growth to 600tcf, NNPC Ltd. is spearheading a regional gas pipeline network to supply natural gas across Africa.
Kyari detailed NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to a sustainable future, citing initiatives such as eliminating gas flares in gas projects and signing up for the United Nations Global Compact. The company aims to leverage its natural gas reserves to power nationwide development, enhance electricity supply, generate employment, and stimulate industrial and economic growth.
As the first state-owned oil company to join the UN Global Compact, NNPC Ltd. positions itself as a trailblazer in the pursuit of a net-zero future by 2025. With a focus on a just energy transition, the company’s efforts aim to pave the way for Africa to harness its resources responsibly for the well-being of future generations.