It was a busy week for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) as the Group Managing Director (GMD) Malam Mele Kyari, addressed the 17th All Nigerian Editors’ Conference in Abuja, as Special Guest of Honour.
The conference was an opportunity for the NNPC to spread the message of energy transition and its benefit to the country especially as it concerns insecurity.
As the trend of energy transition to less carbon-intensive energy sources gains ground across the globe, Kyari called for the consideration of what he described as “energy justice” in its implementation.
In an address entitled, “Insecurity as It Affects the Oil and Gas Sector” at the opening ceremony of the conference, Kyari argued that wholesale execution of energy transition without regard to the peculiar socio-economic conditions of various countries would cause dislocations that could exacerbate security challenges in developing nations.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Media in Times of Crisis: Resolving Conflicts, Achieving Consensus,” the NNPC CEO clarified that his concept of energy justice was to allow each country,
especially developing nations, to progress at their own pace while leveraging on their hydrocarbon resources for smooth transition to Net Zero by 2050.
“Talking about energy transition, it is my well-considered view that there must be energy justice, which means that countries should develop at their own pace while taking into consideration the realities that they face.
“Individual nations should be allowed to transit on the basis of their contributions to the carbon emission to the point that ultimately, there will be justice for all by 2050.
“Energy justice will ensure that as we transit, we are allowed to develop in the pace and manner that is just,” Kyari said.
He urged the media industry and other stakeholders to champion the cause of energy justice in the global quest for cleaner energy, stressing that gas development remained the only option for Nigeria to achieve energy transition, without which the country could degenerate into poverty and insecurity.
He said the NNPC Management under his leadership will change the narrative by optimising the free-hand given by President Muhammadu Buhari to revamp the refineries.
“This is the first time in history that NNPC and its subsidiaries are allowed to do things the way things should be done.
“Now, I can confirm to you that we have taken responsibility and we will fix the refineries.
“We have started the process, contractors have been mobilised to the Port Harcourt refinery and they will do so both for Warri and Kaduna before the end of this year,” he added.
On the menace of crude oil and products theft, Kyari said much progress has been made through the collaboration with the military and security agencies.
He added that the support of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and other stakeholders was needed to reduce such incidents to 0.5 per cent which is the limit allowed in the industry.