To actualise government’s goal of net zero emission by 2060, stakeholders in the industry have expressed their commitment to partner with government and others in bringing the initiative to fruition, AMBROSE NNAJI reports.
It was a gathering of eggheads in the industry. The mission was to chart a new course for the sector, especially in the area of exploring efforts aimed at ending emission from operational activities.
Attaining zero emission has become a burning issue in global oil and gas industry, especially with the global attention now turned to attaining cleaner energy, which has, as a critical factor, the attainment of net zero emission.
Net zero emission simply applies to a situation where global greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are in balance with emissions reductions. At net zero, carbon dioxide emissions are still generated, but an equal amount of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere as is released into it, resulting in zero increase.
It was, therefore, instructive when TotalEnergies, a major player in the country’s oil sector, disclosed that its path to net zero emission would involve investment in renewable energies. It would also involve investments in gas developments as gas would serve as transition energy, as well as producing low emission oil as it eliminates routine gas flaring.
Speaking at the just-concluded Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC), in Lagos, the Managing Director, TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mike Sangster, said their plastic recycling plant in Port Harcourt eliminates about 750, 000 cubits of C02 yearly, which is equivalent to planning 4,500 trees. He said the company has made important investments in these areas and implemented several initiatives that are impacting the energy landscape positively.
Sangster noted that in recent years, the company’s projects in Nigeria had been certified with the objective of driving down its green-house gas emissions; and pursuing a zero-flare principle on its new projects as is evident with OML58 Upgrade, Ofon Phase 2, Egina, and Ikike.
He said the company’s investment in the Nigerian Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG) since inception is partly derived from its commitment to the production of cleaner and better energy.
According to him, of its over 530 service stations across the country, more than 112 have been solarised. He noted it’s an ongoing programme to ensure that its stations become fully solarised, adding that the company has also deployed over 150 residential solar solutions across the country.
The MD said over 1.5 million people in the country had been impacted from the sale of 400,000 TotalEnergies solar lamps since 2013, according to Global Lighting Off-grid Association estimates; worldwide, 10 million people have been impacted, he added.
SAIPEC, in its seventh edition, was hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) with the strategic partners – the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and the GEP. It had as its theme: “Harnessing a Sustainable African Energy Industry through Partnerships”.
Sangster, who was represented by the Deputy Managing Director, TotalEnergies in Nigeria, Victor Bandele, noted the industry occupies an advantaged position in the energy transition in Africa, adding it has the finance, the people, technology, and experience.
He said TotalEnergies will be known as the responsible energy giant in Africa linked to the development of natural resources, the strength of its network, and its strategic investment in renewable energy. He added the company will also be known on the continent as the partner of choice for its ability to connect with its customers.
According to him, the company’s ambition included an approach to fossil energies focusing on value by selecting low-cost developments that are the most efficient in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, reaching the top three companies worldwide in low-carbon liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and setting the standard for decarbonising the oil and gas value chains.
Others are profitable investment to become one of the top five producers of renewable electricity (wind and solar) in the world, becoming a leader in the mass production of clean hydrogen, being a partner in its customers’carbon neutrality as well as being recognised in the market for electric mobility as in fuel distribution.
Sangster said the company will continue to maintain its competitive advantage on technical costs, and gett the maximum from its assets through operational excellence.
Again, it will deliver projects on time and within budget insisting new projects must be compliant with low carbon footprint.
Meanwhile, TotalEnergies has said it will end the Routine Gas flaring this year.
Bandele, who made this known this during the panel session, said the company had come to stay. The deputy managing director, Deepwater Assets of Total Upstream Companies of Nigeria, noted that TotalEnergies plays important role in gas exploration.
Bandele said Total changed its name to TotalEnergies to incorporate the entities of the future, noting that TotalEnergies has diversified to Solar Energy Business.
He, however, called on the government to create the enabling environment for gas exploration across Africa.
He said: “We are identifying new opportunities in Nigeria. TotalEnergies is also playing active role in marketing and production as it has 550 filling stations in Nigeria,” adding Africa is a part of the world that needs energy the most.
“Our niche speaks volumes.The growth that we want to give is around the issues of energy. We have focused on exploration and production, and we have focused on marketing and distribution.There’s no state in Nigeria that does not have the presence of TotalEnergies. We are part owners and suppliers of gas to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), and so we are present in the upstream, we are present in the midstream and we are present in the downstream.’’
He said the company’s strategy is first to consolidate on what it knows how best to do.
According to him, TotalEnergies has been working on a chain of energy supply to grow deeper with solar technology, adding that there are examples where the company is doing solar in Africa.
“We are distributing solar energy already in Nigeria, we are looking at new opportunities that are enormous. TotalEnergies has been here for long, so we are here to stay, we are here to consolidate on our business, we are here to grow and we are here for the new opportunities, especially in renewable energies,” Bandele submitted.
The Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas, President, Nigeria Gas Association, Mr. Ed Ubong, said Shell Nigeria gas is 100 per cent subsidiary that are involved in the domestic distribution of gas.
He said the progress the company has made since 2016 with increased domestic gas supply by over 150set focused on three key states – Abia, Rivers and Ogun – and a combined network of over 150km.
He said the company is expanding and by the time this is completed, Shell will be adding 1000mw of power that will enable the access to energy to the people.
