- The NLNG boss said transitioning from polluting sources to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) can reduce emissions by up to 48 per cent.
- Algeria and Nigeria have the largest gas markets in Africa, accounting for at least 55 per cent of the continent’s gas reserves.
The Managing Director/CEO, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), Dr. Philip Mshelbila, said African gas could enhance global energy security by increasing gas production. He said this is due to a rise in demand influenced by a rapid increase in population and economic expansion. He said this during a strategic session at the just-concluded 2023 Gastech Exhibition and Conference in Singapore, where he discussed Africa’s role in increasing supply resilience in the energy transition context.
Stressing the significant role of natural gas in Africa’s energy mix, he said it would ensure a steady supply source despite rising domestic consumption and the growth of floating LNG, facilitating the rapid delivery of gas products to the market. Mshelbila stressed the necessity of adopting a multi-dimensional approach to the energy transition, considering Africa’s specific context and evolving needs. He said the continent is already capitalising on opportunities in the energy transition, utilising gas as an evolutionary energy source.
According to the NLNG boss, transitioning from polluting sources to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) can reduce emissions by up to 48 per cent. Citing Nigeria as an example, he said the government actively promotes CNG usage in the transportation sector to expand gas utilisation and drive progress across various industries. He also noted that Africa is maximising opportunities in the growing LNG market, increasing its production capacity to contribute to global supply substantially.
He noted, “Africa is emerging as a critical global gas supply source, with production expected to double, solidifying the continent’s role in global energy security. The largest gas markets in Africa remain Algeria and Nigeria, which account for at least 55% of the continent’s gas reserves. However, exciting new gas markets are emerging across the continent, especially in LNG developments in Mozambique, Senegal, the Congo, and Tanzania.”
The NLNG boss further stated that efforts are underway to develop inter-regional gas supply pipelines to facilitate the movement of gas resources from West Africa to North Africa and beyond, promoting intercontinental trade.