Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), says moving away from high carbon energy to low carbon energy sources will boost Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Director General, Prof. Eli Bala, who spoke in an interview on the sidelines of the ECN Quarterly Energy Lecture Series on Thursday in Abuja, said the transition would benefit Nigeria.
He said the transition must be equitably done in the country for the benefit of Nigerians.
“First we must appreciate that we need energy for our development and electricity at affordable cost and very reliable.
“We must have the energy for transportation, for industrialisation , for commercial activities, but the question is how do we go about it,’’ Bala asked.
He noted that in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), natural gas was a transition fuel that the present administration places much emphasis on and that it must be developed together with other renewable energy.
The Director-General explained that Nigeria had the resources, and these renewables which also include biomass, hydropower among others, has to be done with a technology involving energy efficiency.
Bala said for fewer carbon emissions, Nigeria is capable of developing biofuel or bioethanol which was a substitute for fuel also known as Premium Motor Spirit.
He added that it was possible for Nigeria to also develop a substitute for diesel fuel which is a biofuel used in heavy-duty machines and equipment.
Accordingly, biofuel is increasingly attracting attention worldwide as a direct replacement for diesel fuel in diesel engines.
He said all these and more would be possible through continuous development of the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
Professor Bala maintained that human capacity development was a pivotal element in achieving desired results.
To develop the capacity of Nigerians, the ECN Boss, emphasised the need for the creation of an enabling environment with an educational system that encourages creative thinking.
“So we invited academics, experts from the industry, from the government to tell us more about topical issues because the only way one can plan is to have in-depth knowledge of the sector.’’
NAN