The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its activities for the new week with a call on stakeholders to intensify efforts to address abject energy poverty in Africa.
The GMD/CEO of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, made the call at the 2022 Africa Infrastructure Solutions Summit which recently held in Abuja.
At a panel session on Energy Transition at the summit organised by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) with the theme: Africa’s Energy Conundrum: A Pragmatic Approach to Net Zero, Kyari joined other energy experts to advocate for a practical approach to energy transition to guarantee cheap access to energy in Africa.
According to him, there should be a slow but proper energy transition process in Africa with emphasis on access rather than net zero status.
He called on developing countries to form a common front to address the irrational expectations of transiting to net zero, adding that African leaders must insist that there must be energy justice.
He said NNPC was at the forefront of efforts by Nigeria to rally the needed support and cooperation among African countries to promote gas sufficiency in order to eliminate energy poverty.
Kyari also canvassed for the integration of Africa’s infrastructure in the region.
The Session was moderated by AFC’s Executive Director for Financial Services, Mr Sanjeev Gupta.
Other panelists in the session include, Prof. Carios Lopez of the Mandela School of Public Governance of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and Mr Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director, Sahara Group.
According to the panelists, there is need for African countries to reduce their dependence on foreign funds for projects and start looking inwards for financing.
For Shonubi, he spoke on the need for effective communication strategy during the campaigns with the African populace and the transition process just as he said that poverty needs to be addressed.
SOURCE: phenomenal.com.ng
