Clean Energy access for all citizens, irrespective of location has been identified as the surest bet for a successful global energy transition and the fight against climate change.

Managing Director, Neconde Energy Limited, Monday Okoro made the assertion on Wednesday in Lagos at a panel discussion on Operationalising a Clean Energy Transition for Sustainable Development of Africa at the 45th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE).

According to Okoro, both authorities and players in the energy sector should work on meeting the huge energy demands of the citizenry to ensure sustainable development that will move the majority of the populace from poverty, through access to clean energy.

The NAICE was put together by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, with the theme: “Global Transition to Renewable and Sustainable Energy and the Future of Oil and Gas in Africa’’.

Okoro added ‘’Nigeria should focus on utilising the gas being produced locally to develop the country instead of exporting it overseas as the local usage of available gas will accelerate access to cleaner energy, needed to power sustainable development’’.

When asked what success will be like in localizing the energy transition, Okoro, a former Vice President of Schlumberger, explained that ‘’shipping gas to Europe is not a success, as we should use it at home to reduce carbon emission in the country and prioritise our economic development.’

‘’Gas can be used to generate power, so people can to stop using diesel generators that have higher carbon emissions. If we channel our energy towards the development of the economy, It will also lead to more job opportunities for a sustainable economy’’, he asserted.

On the panel discussion were Roger Brown, Seplat CEO, represented by Effiong Okon, New Energies Director, Seplat Energy; Osayonde Igiehon, MD/CEO, Heirs Oil & Gas ltd; Mike Sangster, MD TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria Limited, represented by Victor Bandele, DMD, Deepwater, TotalEnergies; Philip Mshelbila, MD/CEO NLNG, represented by Adeleye Falade, GM Production, NLNG; Henry Menkiti, COO, Sahara Energy, represented by Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, GM, Asharami; and Justin Ezeala, MD, Nigerian Gas Marketing Company, represented by Chudi Okocha, GM Commercial.

The panelists all agree that the sustainable development of the country by bridging the existing energy gap, and using the available resources should be the focus of the Government and players in the sector, while advocating that cleaner fossil fuel should be allowed to develop the African continent, like was used to develop Europe, instead of the clamor for its abandonment.