Petroleum Engineers Call For Collaborative Efforts To Address Nigeria’s Energy Sector Challenges

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigerian Council has called for collaborative efforts to address the challenges and opportunities facing Nigeria’s energy sector.

Salahuddin Tahir, Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigerian Council, gave an inspiring speech at the Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLEF) opening ceremony in 2024.

He emphasised the importance of working together to address Nigeria’s energy sector challenges, as well as the role of the Oloibiri Lecture and Energy Forum (OLEF) Series as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and progress in the industry.

“This year’s forum focuses on the theme of Stability in the Nigerian Energy Sector: Integrated Strategies for Infrastructure, Transportation, and Security, emphasising the importance of collaborative efforts to address challenges and capitalise on opportunities in Nigeria’s dynamic energy landscape,” said Salahuddin Tahir, Chairman of the SPE Nigerian Council.

“The stability of the energy sector is critical to sustaining economic growth, ensuring national security, and promoting environmental sustainability,” Tahir stated.

Mr Tahir also used the occasion to express the SPE Nigerian Council’s support for the country’s bid to host the African Energy Bank’s headquarters, citing Nigeria’s potential and leadership in the energy sector.

In his keynote speech, Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, emphasised the critical importance of closing the energy access gap to create economic prosperity in the country. To address Nigeria’s energy access gap, Kyari stated that NNPC Ltd was developing the infrastructure required to deliver oil and gas and drive prosperity for Nigerians.

“We are committed to developing gas infrastructure across the country,” Kyari said, emphasising that the company’s commitment was more than just a statutory requirement under the Petroleum Industry Act, but also a pledge to ensure energy security beyond fuel supply.

“We are committed to investing in critical infrastructure to boost economic growth by supplying gas to the domestic market, with a target of at least 8 billion cubic metres,” Kyari said.

In his address, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), represented by Engr. Busari Kamoru stated that the federal government has identified transport, infrastructure, and security as key priority areas in addressing the sector’s energy deficit, as these will bring about stability, growth, and the sustenance of a better energy sector.

“Nigeria has the potential to transition to a more sustainable energy future by improving key infrastructure, transportation, and security, as well as embracing research and innovation in renewable energy and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders,” Lokpobiri stated.

In his State of the Industry address, Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), represented by Mrs. Oluremi Komolafe, stated that the shift to gas is not only an option but also a necessity for Nigeria’s economic resilience.

“Our enormous gas resources provide a unique opportunity to diversify our revenue streams and reduce reliance on oil, resulting in a more robust and sustainable economic foundation,” Ekpo stated.

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council is a non-profit professional organisation that promotes the petroleum engineering profession and disseminates technical knowledge in the oil and gas industry. The Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (SPE OLEF) commemorates the first commercial oil discovery in Nigeria by Shell D’Arcy in 1956 at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State.