Nigeria does not intend to give up the fossil anytime soon. It relies in particular on a clean fossil fuel, natural gas. President Muhammadu Buhari made known his country’s position at the opening of COP26 which ends on November 12 in Glasgow. Low carbon emitters but with an almost chronic energy deficit, many African countries still intend to rely on fossil fuels as pressure is mounting on the continent and in the world to reduce funding in this sector. France has just joined an agreement in this direction announced during the COP26. Nigeria on the parade : it promotes an African energy bank. How Abuja sees its energy transition ? Responses with the Minister of Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, passing through Paris during an investment promotion forum in his country which was held on November 10, 2021.
franceinfo Africa: you advocate an energy transition that would take place in stages, and renewable energies are not the first. Explain to us Nigeria’s position?
Timipre Sylva: we are obviously interested in the development of renewable energies but we must benefit from a specific trajectory. For us, the energy transition does not rhyme with renewable energies but rather ofmove towards cleaner energies. There are technologies today that we can use for cleaner use of fossil fuels. Deepening the mastery of these technologies is one avenue for the future. We want to rely on gas to make our transition to renewable. Let’s face it, we are not the ones that emit the most carbon. Today, when we talk about carbon emissions, it is really not a concern for Africans because what we emit is even below the targets set for 2030-2040. We ask that we be allowed to ensure our basic energy supply with gas, which is a clean fuel that we have in abundance. Obviously, we will develop renewable energies in parallel because we are determined to reach zero net emissions by 2060.
What is Nigeria doing today, where scandals are numerous in this area, to limit the damage linked to the exploitation of oil? ?
The combustion of flares (gas is separated from oil and it is burned as waste on extraction sites, editor’s note) was the main responsible for our carbon emissions. Before the end of the year, there will be no more gas flaring in Nigeria because we are in the process of marketing it. We are also looking for international partners to work on technologies for a cleaner exploitation of fossil fuels. We are looking for both technology and funding.
Doesn’t the income generated by oil allow you to do it on your own?
We have some of the money, but not all of the money.
Nigeria wants the creation of an African energy bank to finance investments in fossil fuels while there is pressure in the world and in Africa to reduce funding in this sector. Where are you at and why is such an institution necessary for you ?
The negotiations have just started. We wish to rely on the Organization of African Petroleum Producers (APPO) to discuss the feasibility of setting up an African energy bank to finance the sector in Africa. Europe wants to force us to move towards renewables. But are we in a position today to turn to these energies? We want to develop and provide energy to all Africans who do not have it and there is a lot of it. Can we now ensure our basic supply by relying on renewable energies? It is unlikely and this is the reason for this initiative.