September 17, 2024

NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

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Breaking News

1 Bobai, Jisalo’s former aide, seeks to replace late Rep. Ekene

2 LP’s leadership feud a family issue soon to be resolved – Bobai

3 FG to leverage transnational-education initiative to boost university intake – NUC

4 W/Africa needs collaborative efforts to combat terrorism – KAIPTC boss

5 Maulud: Al-Habibiyyah embarks on tree planting campaign across Nigeria

General News

Evergreen City: Chinese coy mulls renewable energy industry 

 

By Salif Atojoko

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, said Nigeria’s endeavour to achieve value chain localisation in renewable energy technology manufacturing took a significant step forward over the weekend.

 

He said Sinoma of China expressed strong interest in siting its renewable energy technology manufacturing industry in Evergreen City, the country’s green industrial zone.

 

He added this was a demonstration of Sinoma’s belief in President Bola Tinubu’s green industrial vision.

 

He said, in a statement on Monday, that he was hosted to a dinner in Beijing, the Chinese capital, by Mr Yin Zhisong, Chairman of Sinoma International Engineering Company.

 

“It was a productive and memorable introductory session,” he said.

 

He said the company was a leading subsidiary of the CNBM Group, with 85 billion dollars in assets, 200,000 employees, 11,000 patents, and 26 Research and Development Institutes.

 

He said he also joined a virtual meeting with a combined technical team from the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. State Department.

 

He said the meeting was a follow-up on Nigeria’s development of a circular economy and the new programmatic, project-driven, private sector-led, and public sector-enabled initiative to co-create industrial clusters and consumer credit-tied financing packages.

 

He said this would hopefully unlock Nigeria’s envisioned 1 trillion dollars GDP in an inclusive fashion that would create opportunities for all Nigerians. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

AfDB president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, during a media conference in Nairobi
Banking , Business

Africa will drive global agenda on renewable energy – AfDB president

By Lucy Ogalue

Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, the President, African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, says Africa will drive global agenda on renewable energy and green transitions.

Adesina said this at a media conference in Nairobi, on the sidelines of the ongoing AfDB Annual Meetings 2024.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event marks the 59th Annual Assembly of the AfDB, the 50th meeting of the African Development Fund (ADF) and 60 years of AfDB’s existence

While articulating Africa’s inherent advantage in renewable energy, Adesina said the continent had abundant solar potential, and a catalyst for driving green energy initiatives on a global scale.

“Globally, we have been talking about global energy transitions. Everybody worries about continued CO2 emissions and the need to contain that through energy transitions and moving into more renewable energy.

“Africa will drive the global agenda on renewable and green energy transitions for two reasons. We have great sunshine, which has about 11 terawatts of solar potential.

“That is the highest solar potential you have anywhere in the world. And the level of solar radiation in Africa is the highest anywhere you will find in the world.

“So, therefore, as the world now transitions into renewable energy, Africa will be front and centre in terms of harnessing the power of renewable energy to drive our world,” he said.

According to Adesina, there is a lot of interest in green hydrogen, green ammonia, fertilisers, jet fuels and other things that require renewable energy, such as solar energy.

He said that Africa’s rich reservoir of natural resources, including platinum, copper, and lithium, positioned the continent as a key player in the burgeoning Electric Vehicle (EV) market.

He emphasised the importance for Africa to harness these resources strategically for its transformation and to assert its prominence in global value chains.

“And so Africa today has 90 per cent of all the platinum in the world. It has well over 60- 70 per cent of all the copper you have worldwide.

“Fifty per cent of all the other metals, whether nickel or lithium. Africa has a massive amount of these natural metals that will determine the future of electric vehicles in the world.

“And so how Africa harnesses that for its transformation will be critical, but also critical for how Africa positions itself globally in those value chains.

“So there are potential, opportunities, and positioning issues for Africa within the context of your global electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems.

On Agriculture, Adesina said it emerged as a linchpin in Africa’s transformation narrative.

According to him, with most of the world’s uncultivated arable land lying within its borders, Africa holds the key to global food security.

He, however, underscored the imperative for Africa to leverage its agricultural potential to meet the needs of a burgeoning global population.

Adesina said that the continent was poised to chart its course on the global stage and should ensure to shape the future of generations to come.

“So, what Africa does with agriculture will determine the future of food in the world. Africa’s transformation will have to happen not with what Africa does not have.

“It has to happen with what Africa has and how it harnesses those things, which will drive this fast-paced transformation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Ese E. Eniola Williams

L-R: Hon Stephan Wenzel, Parliamentary Secretary, German Bundestag; Hon. Baerbel Hoehn, former member of German Bundestag and currently, Special Representative for Decentralised Energy for the Global South and Rep. Sam Onuigbo, Member (South-East) Governing Board, and Chairman, Committee on Security, Climate Change and Special Interventions of North-East Development Commission, at the 2024 IRENA Legislators Forum at Abụ Dhabi, UAE
General News

Nigeria can leverage renewable energy for industrialisation — Climate activist

By Kayode Adebiyi

Former House of Representatives member and the sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act, Mr Sam Onuigbo, has said Nigeria can leverage on renewable energy for industrialisation.

Onuigbo made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

The former lawmaker emphasised that Nigeria has a huge energy market with about 90 million underserved people.

He also said that the Nigerian government should create an enabling environment for the flourishing of investments in renewable energy to address its huge energy deficit in line with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on the concrete steps Nigeria has taken to endorse renewable energy, Onuigbo pointed out the constitutional amendment that removed electricity from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List, saying it was a game changer.

He also referred to the subsequent enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 with provisions for off-grid and mini-grid generation and distribution of power as another game changer.

He said the Climate Change Act, with its provision for research and development on renewables and the Clean Cooking Policy, which seeks to achieve universal clean cooking energy access by 2030, were proofs of the country’s commitment to renewable energy.

“The recent provision of subsidies to support the development and the operation of solar hybrid mini-grids in unserved and underserved areas courtesy of a US$750m World Bank loan shows the commitment towards green energy.

“Nigeria will surely benefit from the global ambition of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 and consequently industrialise from it,” he said.

Onuigbo, who represents the South-East on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), advised international investors to invest in Nigeria’s huge renewable market.

He also urged international investors to take maximum advantage of the opportunity the Nigerian market offers both for the growth of their businesses and the country’s development. (NAN)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Illustration for renewable energy
Economy/Business , Environment

Big companies facing pressure over investment in oil and gas – Expert

By Martha Agas

An expert in geosciences, Dr David Egya, says big companies are currently facing a lot of pressure when investing in oil and gas due to the global upsurge in energy transition.

Egya said this during his presentation at a session on ‘Opportunities and Challenges in Renewable Energy Potential of Nigeria’ at the 59th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE) of the Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in Jos on Thursday.

He said that Nigeria needed to import the necessary technology needed for the global energy transition, as the demand for oil and gas would soon phase out.

Egya, who is an Executive Researcher with Petronas Research and Technology in Edinburg, said that if international oil and gas companies were not investing in Nigeria`s oil and gas, it indicated an urgent need for the country to seek and develop alternatives, similar to countries like China.

According to him, Nigeria should not wait for other countries to deploy alternatives to oil and gas before starting its contingency plans, as it may be too expensive for it to implement.

“When the alternative energies are developing other nations and we do not have this development of technology readily available we will be in trouble.

“So what am advocating is not abandoning oil and gas, no country is doing that, it is a transition, it is something that is taking place and Nigeria is linked with the global world, we do not exist in isolation.

“If we wait till the world discover the new alternative before we go in, then it means we will be buying this technology from the rest of the world.

“When we delay and buy this technology in the future, we wouldn’t be having the resources from the oil and gas, because around the world, people would not be buying oil and gas like they are buying today in Nigeria.

“So, we will be in a much more difficult position if we wait on this technology to develop, before we import them,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has appealed to the Federal Government for an improved gas policy for the country, citing the global upsurge in energy transition as a reason to achieve desired results from the process.

Also, according to a report by the World Economic Forum, the energy transition in Nigeria still requires significant investment from the government and support from its citizens.

Prioritising economic development, along with proper planning and strengthening of institutional and fiscal frameworks can help Nigeria accelerate its transition.

NAN reports that the conference with theme ‘Emerging Global Perspectives, Trends and Sustainable Development of Minerals and Energy Resources’, will end on Friday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng

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Edited by Gabriel Yough

Environment

CSOs seek more efforts on renewable energy devt. in Africa

By Usman Aliyu

The African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at COP28 have called for the tripling of renewable energy in Africa, more focus on adaptation and increased adaptation finance to the continent.

The organisations made the call at its meeting at the ongoing climate change conference known as COP28 in Dubai.

The CSOs, joined by representatives from affected communities, were led by 350.org, Power Shift Africa and ACCESS Coalition.

The African organisations demanded stronger language on commitments on fossil fuels, adaptation at COP28, as climate negotiations enters the homestretch.

The organisations urged the negotiators to push for an outcome that would yield a fast, fair and fully-funded transition from fossil fuels.

“The current fossil fuel-based energy system in Africa has failed to deliver energy access to the continent while leaving more than half a billion Africans energy-poor.

“The ongoing negotiations are happening against the background of crippling climate change events, including the historic floods currently being experienced in East Africa that have claimed more than 350 lives and displaced a million people in Kenya and Tanzania.

“The Horn of Africa region has been recovering from a drought that ended in April, billed by climate experts as the longest and most devastating in four decades,” the group said in a statement released on Sunday.

In their arguments, the civil society groups labelled the two per cent of about $60 billion investment received by the continent in the last decade for renewable energy development as unfair, unjust and unacceptable.

They called for a scale up to more than 15,000 GW by 2030 or an average of 1500 GW annually to keep the 1.5°C temperature target within reach.

To achieve this, they called for more political support and a shift in policy and investment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Ephraims Sheyin

Renewable Energy sources
Oil & Gas

Energy transition: Africa requires $2.64trn for renewable energy sources – Sahara Group

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Sahara Group says Africa requires about 2.64 trillion dollars, roughly the size of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to rely on renewable energy sources for electricity generation by 2050.

The company says Africa is expected to embrace more of natural gas and renewables for its energy in the coming years even as oil use will continue to increase.

The energy conglomerate said this at a workshop for the Energy Correspondent Association of Nigeria, on Wednesday in Abuja, tagged, “Energy Transition: The Road Not Taken.”

In a presentation, Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance and Sustainability, Sahara Group, said funds would be for the installation of the renewable energy sources.

This, she said, would also include infrastructure needed for generation, network and storage system as well as other enabling costs.

“Despite the promise of African renewable market, risks on three levels continue to prevent many investors from committing their capital,” she decried.

Gray listed the levels as macro, industry and transaction levels.

“Macro level comprises political risk which is associated with political events that adversely impact the value of investment, then off-taker risk which involves credit and default risk and currency risk associated with volatile forex rate that affects investment.

“Industry level comprises policy associated with taxes and regulatory policies that have adverse effect on projects, then grid and transmission risk associated with limitations, interconnection and liquidity risk associated with operational liquidity and revenue shortfall issues.

“Transaction level comprises of financing risk associated with financing instruments, then re-financing risk which bothers on loan, and technical risk associated with countries’ know-how for structuring and transactions,” she said.

She said while fossil fuel would continue to remain the major source of Africa Energy demand, particularly through oil, it was expected that there would be a major shift towards a modern and cleaner energy.

She said natural gas would now begin to play the role of bridging between more polluting fossil fuels and zero carbon technologies such as wind and solar energy.

According to her, biomass and coal are expected to experience the most significant drop-offs in the coming decades.

She stated that the company supplied 25 per cent of natural gas currently in Nigeria, adding that Africa is expected to embrace more of natural gas and renewable energy in coming years even as oil use continues to increase.

Gray, while advocating for value chain integration, funding, investment, de-risking and infrastructure to drive transition, said Sahara group would continue to make investments along the entire gas value chain from production to transportation to consumption. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau, Executive Secretary, PTDF
Oil & Gas

PTDF partners with universities on renewable energy research

By Usman Aliyu

The Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) says it has partnered with some Nigerian universities on research into alternative source of energy called renewable energy.

The PTDF’s Executive Secretary, Dr Bello Aliyu Gusau, disclosed this at a workshop on Wednesday held at University of Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop titled: “Agro Waste to Energy: Biodiesel Bedrock of Energy Sufficiency in Nigeria” was organised by PDTF Professionals Chair.

Gusau was represented by the Deputy General Manager, Strategic Planning and Documentation, Mr Olayinka Agboola,

He said the workshop was to expand the frontier of knowledge based on findings of research work on alternative energy sources.

“We have invested funds in this research work, to see how we can make our local materials in renewable energy,” he said.

According to him, the effort became necessary due to the complexity of the energy problem in Nigeria which requires alternative sources.

The D-G pointed out that the fossil fuel used as a source of power by Nigerians is becoming expensive to procure, adding that time has come to harness solar, wind and geothermal as energy sources.

In her welcome address, Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Lilian Salami, commended PTDF for assisting the universities with research funds.

Salami, who was represented by her Deputy Vice Chancellor Ekhewan Campus, Prof. Buniyamin Ayinde, said that the partnership would move the society forward.

Speaking, a scholar Prof. Ikuonase Emovon of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta, said Nigeria is endowed with renewable energy resources capable of easing the power generation problems.

Also contributing, Prof. Kessington Obahiagbon, the PTDF Chair Holder, said biomass fuel is becoming a viable alternative for fossil fuels due to rising demand for clean energy, diminishing fuel stocks and lowering reliance on crude oil. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abdul Hassan/Julius Toba-Jegede

Illustration for renewable energy
Economy/Business

Renewable energy can boost national development – – experts

By Constance Athekame

Energy experts say renewable energy has so much potential to grow the power sector, thereby, promoting national development.

The experts spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the inauguration of the newly elected members of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations Alliance (REEEA-A)/ a one-day media training.

Prof. Magnus Onuoha, the President REEEA-A) said that renewable energy and energy efficiency had so much potential for women empowerment, youth development and national growth.

“But we barely have a cadre of local indigenous developers as most of the products and finance were not accessible to Nigerian developers.

“Here in Nigeria, the fuel subsidy removal, the Electricity Act recently signed into law, rising cost of energy dominant systems and measures, have showed that it is time for a critical rapprochement and behavioural change toward renewable energy and energy efficiency.

“Not just as a policy document but as an implementable system for domestic, rural, urban, commercial and industrial development,” he said.

Onuoha said that in 2019, seven associations came together and saw the need for a common voice in the renewable energy and energy efficient sector.

He listed the associations as Association of Energy Engineers – AEE, Council for Renewable Energy Nigeria – CREN, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria –REAN, Renewable Energy Associations Society of Nigeria – RAESON.

Others he said were the Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association of Nigeria, – SEPAN Women in Renewable Energy Association – WIRE-A

According to him, with the generous support of development partners the associations had remained strong.

“And after three years of trying to get everyone on the same page, representing the industry and associations within the industry and at the same time sensitising government on the roles Nigerian developers have to play.

“We are taking it not just one step further but reinforcing the foundation that has been laid, and building multiple stories of vertical integrations that will change the industry,” he said.

Onuoha said that there was the need to develop the capacity of developers, installers, advocates and policy formulators. If we do not have capacity, we shall be at the mercy of others.

He said that without the requisite capacity, indigenous expertise could not be built to sustain national growth.

“With enough capacity, we can create green jobs, create employment, create entrepreneurs and evolve women and youth empowerment.

“As the President of REEEA-A, I, alongside my colleagues on the Governing Council pledge to work assiduously to ensure that renewable energy and energy efficiency become the go-to technologies to power Nigeria, ”he said.

On her part, Mrs Joy Ogaji, the Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), said that the introduction of consolidated power framework that includes cleaner renewable energy sources in Nigeria’s energy mix would facilitate the development of renewable energy solutions.

Ogaji said that there was the need to introduce cut–edge technology to improve power distribution and monitoring and also encourage private sector investment.

She said that the proposed reforms are expected to improve the competitiveness, financial viability and service delivery in the sector.

According to her, the payment/liquidity and security of supply as major challenges in the region should be looked into to ensure that the region realise regional power integration to its fullest potential.

“There is the need to put in place several measures to improve confidence in the regional power market such as

”Improving sector creditworthiness, through a well-designed and securitisation model to encourage the provision of guarantees.

Ogaji said that for West Africa to ensure energy security for her growing economies, developing a strategic framework through regional integration coordinated and bench marked must be promoted when developing respective energy sectors.

“There is also urgent need to encourage move towards willing seller/willing buyer contracts to effectively balance risk and reward in the sector,” she said. (NAN)(www.nanews,ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Economy/Business

W.TEC trains 288 girls on electronics, renewable energy

By Funmilola Gboteku

The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), a non- profit organisation says it has trained 288 girls on electronics and renewable energy to thrive in the digital age.

Adeyemi Odutola, External Relations Lead, W.TEC, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday said the NGO was able to achieve this through its MakeHer Space Programme.

He noted that the programme was a transformative initiative for secondary school students in Ikorodu and Surulere areas of Lagos.

According to him, a total of 210 girls were trained in four schools at Surulere while 78 girls were trained in two schools at Ikorodu respectively.

Odutola said that the one-year programme, which had now come to a close, was designed to teach selected girls to create technology and engineering-based solutions that solve problems in their communities.

He added that it was also an opportunity to provide information about career options and expose them to women working successfully in Science,Technology Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) profession.

“The programme which was conducted in Lagos, Kwara, Bauchi, Nasarawa and Abuja, was done with the support from Google.

“In an era defined by technological advancements, it is crucial to equip young minds with the skills needed to thrive in the digital and tech age.

“MakeHER Space, played a vital role in shaping the futures of 288 bright students from various secondary schools across Lagos State.

“The programme focused on electronics and renewable energy, offering students the opportunity to learn and build essential gadgets like power banks, solar power chargers, and rechargeable lamps,” Odutola said.

He explained that throughout the school calendar year, the students who participated in the series of hands-on workshops and engaging activities that fostered their innovation and creativity, were enrolled in batches each term at the schools.

According to him, the programme is also designed to ignite the students’ passion for technology and provide them with the necessary skills to excel in this rapidly evolving field.

Odutola said that from learning the basics of electronics to harnessing the power of renewable energy, the students embarked on an inspiring journey of discovery.

“Through the programme, these aspiring technologists discovered their potential, gained invaluable skills, and laid the foundation for a bright future.

“The feedback from participants indicate that the girls believe they can fix minor problems with their electronic and rechargeable devices.

“Many further mentioned that they have more understanding of the functioning of solar powered devices and possible repairs when faltering, “he said.

He also noted that during the graduation ceremony, students who were outstanding throughout the programme were presented with well-deserving gifts.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Oil & Gas

Renewable energy key to bridging energy gap – Experts

 

By Stellamaris Ashinze

Some experts, on Wednesday, said that renewable energy was key to bridging the energy gap in the underserved and unserved communities.

They stated this at a panel discussion, with the theme: ‘Bridging the Energy Gap in Un-served and Under-served Communities in Nigeria’ at the ongoing  AFRICANXT 2023 in Lagos.

Founder of Dsuonenegry, Chukwuebuka Obimma, said that more than 70 million people living in rural areas did not have access to electricity supply.

He said that the current energy supply gap in Nigeria was, at least, 180,000 MW, according to the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors.

”About 600 million people across Sub-Saharan African communities have no access to electricity.

”A renewable energy will, to a great extent, bridge the gap of un-served and under-served areas,” he said.

According to him, there is the need to spend much money in partnering with community leaders because rural areas are an integral part of the society.

Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ashdam Solar Co. Ltd., Damilola Asaleye, said that there were misconceptions about solar energy, especially about it being expensive.

“Generally, energy is expensive, but the money paid on solar energy can be gotten back within three to five years,” she said.

Asaleye stressed the need for sensitisation, education and advocacy on reliable, clean, sustainable and affordable energy.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ongoing AFRICANXT, scheduled for Feb. 6 to Feb. 10, is with the theme: Cooperate. Collaborate. Innovate. Unlocking Our Potential, Ensuring Africa’s Prosperity.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

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