- Seplat Energy CEO Roger Brown highlights the need for improved energy access in Nigeria to drive job creation, prosperity, and the achievement of the SDGs.
- The company advocates for natural gas as a critical transition fuel to resolve Nigeria’s energy trilemma, reduce emissions, and enhance energy affordability.
Seplat Energy Plc has emphasised that Nigeria’s development will heavily rely on significant improvements in access to energy, mainly through lower-cost and more reliable energy sources. According to the company, such advancements will drive job creation and prosperity and support social development and the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Roger Brown, the CEO of Seplat Energy, made this statement during his keynote address at the 42nd Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Annual Conference & Exhibition in Lagos. Represented by Okey Mba, Seplat Energy’s Director of New Energy, Brown spoke on the conference theme: “Resolving the Nigerian Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth, and Affordability.”
In his address, Brown stressed the importance of improving energy access in Nigeria, facing challenges such as rapid population growth, inadequate economic and social development, and poor energy access. He highlighted the need for a balanced approach that addresses energy equity, security, and sustainability.
“Nigeria’s development will require significant improvements in energy access. The country can achieve substantial development gains with minimal environmental impact by leveraging gas. It is essential for Nigeria to transition away from biomass and oil as its primary energy sources,” Brown said.
Seplat Energy’s CEO underscored natural gas’s potential as a critical component of Nigeria’s energy future, calling it the ideal “transition fuel.” Gas, he noted, has already been widely accepted in the developed world as a bridge to cleaner energy, and Nigeria, with its abundant local gas resources, is uniquely positioned to harness this potential.
Brown pointed out that Nigeria’s vast gas reserves—estimated at 209 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), with some experts suggesting the actual reserves could be two to three times that figure—present a local solution to resolving the country’s energy trilemma. As these gas reserves are developed, they have the potential to significantly enhance Nigeria’s energy security while addressing the growing demand for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.
“The country’s estimated 40GW+ of off-grid generator capacity could be displaced by cleaner, more cost-effective utility-scale gas and renewables. Every gigawatt of generator power displaced by cleaner gas will decarbonise Nigeria’s energy system and lower energy costs,” Brown added. He emphasised that Nigeria’s energy sector must focus on integrated solutions to unlock its gas resources’ value fully.
Seplat Energy is committed to supporting increased power generation, reducing emissions, and expanding its gas operations. The company is working to enhance gas production capacity Through joint ventures, such as those at the ANOH and Sapele gas plants. Additionally, Seplat is developing new business lines in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) while decarbonising its operations by reducing gas flaring and replacing diesel usage.
The company’s ongoing investments in gas infrastructure and technology are expected to deliver substantial value for all stakeholders, advancing the country’s energy goals while positioning Seplat as a key player in Nigeria’s transition to a more sustainable and affordable energy future.