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The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) concluded its 4th Biannual International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology (ICHST) in Abuja, calling on stakeholders to urgently address Nigeria’s energy crisis through sustainable solutions leveraging the country’s vast natural gas reserves. The conference, organized in collaboration with key industry players including the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (MPR), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Academy, outlined a roadmap to transform Nigeria’s energy sector. In a communique issued by PTI’s Director of Research and Development, Dr. Tina Isichie, the conference highlighted Nigeria’s 207 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas reserves as a cornerstone for national development. “Nigeria has been blessed with natural gas resources, currently a reserve of 207 TCF, in addition to oil. This is enough to support developments by leveraging digitalization, innovation, and technology across the board,” Isichie stated. With Nigeria projected to become the world’s third most populous nation by 2050, she emphasized the need for innovative solutions to meet growing energy demands. The conference aligned with the government’s 2020-2030 Decade of Gas policy, urging accelerated investment in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and mandating that all Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) importers establish processing plants in Nigeria to ensure affordability and accessibility. Despite the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, stakeholders identified persistent challenges, including under-utilized refineries, workforce capacity gaps, and inadequate technology transfer and environmental compliance. To address these, the conference advocated for stronger collaboration among MPR agencies to develop local technologies and solutions for production challenges. It also called for the establishment of centres of excellence to foster industry-academia partnerships, building a skilled workforce ready for the global energy transition. “Transparency is the currency of trust needed to propel the sector,” Isichie noted, stressing the importance of domestic participation and leveraging divestment opportunities to showcase local technical and financial capabilities. The communique further emphasized maximizing Nigeria’s gas reserves to diversify the economy into agriculture and ICT, urging sector liberalization to drive growth. The conference, supported by organizations like the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and CypherCrescent Ltd., shows the urgency of collective action to secure Nigeria’s energy future. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
