Sopuruchi Onwuka

The global campaign for energy transition and decarbonization must recognize the needs for investments in supply infrastructure in order to guarantee equity, inclusion and diversification strategies that take care of emerging economies.

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Managing Director and Chief Executive officer of Nigeria LNG, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, told global audience at the just concluded Gastech conference in Houston, United States, that developing nations like Nigeria would need huge investment in infrastructural development to drive its energy transition in an efficient and equitable way.

Dr. Mshelbila, who spoke at a Global Leadership Panel discussion on “Energy Inclusion: Widening Access to Natural Gas and LNG to Support Transition to Lower -Carbon Energy System In Emerging Economies,” stated that acute infrastructure deficits in emerging economies stand in the way to cleaner energy adoption.

He pointed at shortage of pipelines, storage and regasification facilities; rigors and costs of importing LNG; and limited access to affordable energy forms as immediate challenges that must be addressed.

Dr Mshelbila’s presentation falls into agreement with the opinion of other discussants that also highlighted the need for development of pipelines, LNG terminals, storage facilities.

The speakers also called for, public-private partnerships (PPPs) that would result in collaborative investments, as well as financing mechanisms such as green bonds, concessional loans.

The industry leaders also agreed on the need for development of national energy plans, and good regulatory frameworks as important strategies for equitable energy transition.

Dr. Mshelbila stated that by addressing these challenges and leveraging on solutions, emerging economies can widen access to natural gas and LNG and support a lower-carbon energy transition and energy inclusion.

He also challenged the global energy industry captains and policy makers to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion as cardinal issues that can help fast track the progress of energy transition in developing economies.

In narrowing down on Nigeria and other developing economies, Dr. Mshelbila urged the global energy policymakers to instate energy equity and inclusion to guarantee access to underserved communities in developing countries.  He made it clear that energy inclusion is key to meeting climate energy goals.

On diversification, he noted that Nigeria’s population would rise to about 250 million of mainly young people by 2050.  He noted that the rising population would also form the energy demand driver, making it important to have larger energy mix to carter for the growing population.

Dr Mshelbila told the world that Nigeria has adopted natural gas as its transition fuel through the Decade of Gas policy launched 2020 to meet up with the energy needs of its growing population. He added that the NLNG is leading a huge role in the initiative.

He stated that NLNG currently supplies almost 40 per cent of Nigeria’s LPG demand by delivering over 400,000 tonnes per year to the domestic market.

‘’Our company’s focus on the domestic market solidifies its reputation as a top-tier global player. Also, by channeling the LPG, we are invariably displacing Charcoal and wood burning which release pollutants that causes about 1.6 million premature deaths annually.”

He also posited that Nigeria and other developing nations need energy to move forward in their industrialization agendas and natural gas will play a vital role in it. He called on producing nations to see how they can maximize the natural gas in developing their nations.

He also noted that diversity, equity and inclusion are cardinal issues that can help in fast tracking the progress of energy transition in developing economies.

Other members of the panel include: Group CEP Pavilion Energy, Singapore, Alan Heng; President  China Gas Marketing, ExxonMobil, Tze San Koh; Head of Asia pacific Operation, JERA, Toshiro Kudama; and Co-Founder &Chair Advisory Board, Lean in Equity & Sustainability, Lame Verre, who moderated the session.