Ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, UK, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has advocated for consideration of “energy justice” in the implementation of energy transition.
The 26th UN COP26 will hold in November 2021, in Scottish city of Glasgow.
Discussions on countries transiting to less carbon-intensive energy sources have gained momentum with global leaders calling for a shift away from fossil fuels as a critical action towards tackling global climate crisis.
Mallam Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, NNPC, spoke at the 17th All-Nigerian Editors’ Conference in Abuja, according to a statement issued on Friday, by Garba Muhammad, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC.
Kyari argued that wholesale execution of energy transition, without regard to peculiar socio-economic conditions of various countries, would cause dislocations that could exacerbate the security challenges in developing nations.
Kyari, in a paper entitled “Insecurity as it affects the Oil and Gas sector”, maintained that his concept of energy justice was to allow each country, especially developing nations, to progress at their own pace.
This, according to him, could be achieved while leveraging on their hydrocarbon resources for smooth transition to Net Zero by 2050.
“Talking about energy transition, it is my 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 emissions to the point that ultimately, there will be justice for all by 2050.
“Energy justice would ensure that as we transit, we are allowed to develop at a pace and in a manner that is just,” Kyari added.
The NNPC CEO also 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.
Speaking on NNPC’s refineries and the role they play in ensuring energy security for the country, he said that the NNPC was keen on changing the narrative and getting the refineries back on stream.
This, it would do by taking advantage of the free-hand given to the management by President Muhammadu Buhari to do the right thing, Kyari said, adding, “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, while the same process for Warri and Kaduna refineries will conclude by the end of this year,” he said.
On the menace of crude oil and products theft, the NNPC CEO said a lot of progress had been made through collaboration with security agencies.
He called for the support of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and other stakeholders, towards reducing insecurity within the oil and gas industry.
Earlier, in his address of welcome, the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr. Mustapha Isah, said the purpose of the conference was to find solutions to the various security challenges facing the country.
Isah also called on all stakeholders to rise up to the challenges of insecurity, by giving their best in defence of the nation.
