Gas to power remains the best answer to solving the problem of gas flaring and non-accessibility to power by rural dwellers in Nigeria. This was the consensus at an energy roundtable, a programme of The SUNGAS(Sustainable Utilisation of Nigeria’s Gas and Renewable Energy Resources) Project, organized by Social Development Integrated Center, (Social Action) to discuss ways to overcoming Nigeria’s complex energy crisis by sustainably utilizing the abundantly available associated (flared) gas in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The roundtable, with the theme; ‘ASSOCIATED GAS TO POWER: A BETTER ENERGY OPTION’, which held on Thursday, 10 December in Port Harcourt, provided a forum for the discussion of the policy issues and constraints that affect the effective utilization of associated gas for small to medium scale local energy generation and sort ways to overcoming them.

In his paper titled, Institutional and Policy Constraints to Utilization of Associated Gas and Renewable Energy Resources for Localised Energy Generation in Nigeria, Dr John-Felix Akinbami, of the Energy Technology and Management Division Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria stated that a major constraint spanning “both policy and institutional is that, there is too much dependence on the conventional way of electricity systems”, so much so that “overtime, energy matter in the country has been over centralised to the point of being in the Exclusive List”. He observed “that there is a global paradigm change from the centralised generation to decentralised generation and community participatory system in form of cooperative electricity communities”, suggesting that the Niger Delta region ‘think globally, act locally’ to bring about the desired change in the energy sector.

Also in his paper, Independent Power Project in Nigeria: A Myth or Reality(A Case Study Of Rivers State), Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, Chairman House Committee On Energy & Natural, Rivers State House Of Assembly, Port Harcourt, who was represented by Eggobueze Anthony stated that the Rivers State Government, realizing that Power remains a major driver of the economy embarked on Independent Power Project about ten years ago, lamenting however, that the major challenge has been the monopoly of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in the distribution of the generated 280MW, and called “for the stop of the flaring of gas and its conversion to alternative uses”.

Speaking, on the topic, Sustainable Gas Utilisation: Prospects and Potential for the Nigeria Market, Kenneth Okafor, Director of Programme, Living Earth Nigeria Foundation (LENF) noted that

“Gas can contribute significantly toward improving energy security for the country” and called for the support for government and the “petroleum industry in their efforts to reduce the flaring and venting of gas associated with the”.

In his welcome address, the Programme officer of Social Action, Celestine Akpobari, sued for the formulation of policies that will impact on the people, to reduce social tension.

High point was the presentation of Social Action’s newly published Briefing Paper by Mark Olise, which aims tat providing an understanding of Nigeria’s energy policy, showing how readily available energy resources cab utilised towards the needs of Nigerians.

Participants drawn were from Ministries of Energy and Environment in Rivers and Bayelsa States, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), House of Assembly Committees on Energy and Environment from Bayelsa and Rivers States, IIED, LENF, NDWC, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and experts.

According to Dr Emma Wilson, Senior Researcher, Business and Sustainable Development, International Institute for Environment and Development, United Kingdom, while giving an overview of the project at the roundtable, The SUNGAS Project, funded by the European Union(EU), is being managed by three indigenous non-governmental organizations, Social Action, Niger Delta Wetlands Center(NDWC) and Living Earth Foundation(LEF), an led by a United Kingdom based International Institute for Energy Development(IIED).

Dr Wilson also said the SUNGAS project which has three components, namely; Demonstration, Renewable Energy and Policy Advocacy seeks to utilize associated gas to improving access to energy from renewable and non-renewable sources in Nigeria, develop skills and foster community leadership and is to be implemented within a three year period, adding that this is in line with the federal government’s 7-Point agenda and the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs), saying that she optimistic the project is destined to succeed.

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For more information, contact Tonye Nria-Dappa 08072185280