The Africa Gas Innovation Summit (AGIS) 2024 has emphasized the urgent need for innovation in Africa’s energy landscape.
With new players like Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, and Uganda joining traditional leaders such as Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Gabon, and Angola, Africa’s vast gas resources present a path to a sustainable future.
“Our easiest path to a sustainable future lies in our gas resources and the shortest path to developing these gas resources is through collaboration and innovation”, said Chairman, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigeria Council Salahuddeen Tahir.
Despite the potentials, several challenges persist.
“Africa’s energy sector is at a critical juncture, facing challenges such as financing gaps, technological and skills deficiencies, high production costs, inadequate infrastructure, global pressure for cleaner energy, and security concerns”, Tahir said.
Envisioned as Africa’s premier annual gas event, AGIS is set to rotate across African states in the future, serving as a hub for the exchange of ideas on harnessing Africa’s gas resources to drive economic growth and prosperity. This summit promotes the Penta Helix model, engaging government, industry, academia, the entrepreneurial community, and venture financial institutions to foster innovation.
It is hoped that this inaugural edition of AGIS will herald a new era of innovation and collaboration aimed at leveraging Africa’s abundant gas resources for sustainable development.
In his keynote address, Mallam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, represented by Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, NNPC Ltd, emphasized Nigeria’s substantial natural gas resources and their potential to address energy deficiencies and drive economic growth. Kyari reiterated NNPC’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions through various gas infrastructure projects, floating LNG projects, and initiatives to commercialize gas.
“Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources, approximately 209 TCF, can address Sub-Saharan Africa’s energy deficiency by providing electricity, clean cooking fuel, auto gas, and industrial feedstock, thereby generating wealth and improving well-being”, Kyari said.
