TotalEnergies Nigeria, IOCs spell strategies to low carbon future

The companies gave their perspectives on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 during a panel session at the ongoing sixth Edition of the sub-Saharan African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference organized by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) in Lagos. The conference holding at the Eko Hotel and Suites is scheduled to end Thursday, February 24.

The session with the topic: 'Dynamics of Sub-Saharan Africa’s Energy, Oil and Gas Sector as We Strive to a Low Carbon Future, an IOC Perspective,' was moderated by the CEO Tsavo Oilfield Services and Non-Executive Board Member, Kenya Power Lighting Company, Eng. Elisabeth Rogo. The panel included Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria, Victor Bandele; representative of the Managing Director, Chevron, Nigeria/Mid Africa Business Unit, Rick Kennedy Director, Deepwater/Production Sharing Contract, Chevron, Bobby Hulett; Director, Equinor Nigeria, Charles Nwoko; General Manager, Upstream, ENI companies in Nigeria (NAOC), Saadoun Banoori and a representative of Mrs Elohor Aiboni,the Managing Director, SNEPCO.

Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria, Victor Bandele, reaffirmed the company's commitment to attaining carbon neutrality in its operations by 2050, as he provided an update on the company's progress toward cleaner energy targets in the run-up to the deadline.

Mr Bandele added that TotalEnergies is investing in all energy sources in various economies, including oil, solar, gas, biomass, wind, electricity, and hydrogen, in keeping with its new profile as an energy company. He also noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) had clarified the budgetary parameters and the direction in which the government intended to steer the industry. He stated that the Act would aid in attracting more investment to enable Nigeria's gas resources develop.

“TotalEnergies is partnering with all our partners and aligning with the government to make gas Nigeria’s transition fuel,” he said noting however that before the current interest driven by climate change concerns the company had taken some initiatives to reduce its carbon footprints in Nigeria.

Bandele maintained that the company completely arrested routine flaring on OFON and all the adjacent fields in 2014 which attracted World Bank recognition. That was followed a couple of years later with the Northern Option Pipeline (NOPL) with 300million scf of gas per day capacity giving boost to the Alaoji power plant, feeding the NLNG plant and now connecting Indorama. He said the most impressive project Nigeria had witnessed in recent times, the 200,000 bpd Egina field was also sanctioned on a zero routine flare basis.

“When you look at all that, you see that we have it in our DNA to make sure that we reduce our carbon footprint,” the DMD said. 

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Chevron, Nigeria/Mid Africa Business Unit, Rick Kennedy said that Africa’s young, skilled and large population as well as abundant gas resources provide a huge opportunity for investors.

Kennedy, who was represented by Director, Deepwater/Production Sharing Contract, Chevron, Bobby Hulett, said the company would continue to invest and make significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product of the region.

He said the company’s vision was in line with the aspiration of African countries, including Nigeria to use gas as a transition fuel and would continue to make investment that would promote gas development.