By Stanley Onyeka, Lagos
Africa has abundant gas reserves, and these rich reserves offer immediate solutions to the continent’s immediate and prevailing challenges if well leveraged.
The Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Energy Plc, Roger Brown, was quoted as saying this during the ongoing Africa Oil Week (AOW) Conference and Exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa, according to the company’s statement.
Mr. Brown, whilst delivering the independent Keynote during the AOW Gas Forum, themed: “Enhancing Africa’s Gas Capacity,” said gas will provide baseload power to facilitate growth in renewable energy which is still a relatively small proportion of the energy mix in Africa.
To decarbonize, he maintained that the world needed to move away from coal as a primary source of electricity. He said: “Gas will play a critical role in moving away from reliance on coal and oil for electricity.
“Messages are mixed, but it is vital that providers of capital see gas as an essential fuel source for Africa. Africa’s abundant gas reserves offer immediate solutions to immediate problems.
“There is therefore significant gas to deliver widespread electrification in Africa increasing the per capita electricity consumption.
“Africa’s development will require significant improvements in access to energy. Lower-cost, more reliable energy will drive job creation, prosperity and development. Gas can support the achievement of many United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its role in reducing costs, increasing energy access and increasing prosperity.”
Gas can support the achievement of many United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its role in reducing costs, increasing energy access and increasing prosperity.
He further noted that bottled gas could avoid nearly half a million deaths due to biomass cooking, as well as protect habitats from deforestation.
“Natural gas is a cheap and immediate input for fertilizers needed to support large-scale agriculture. Gas is essential for basic infrastructure, as no commercially viable, low-carbon alternatives are anywhere near ready for cement, steel and glass production,” he said.
Mr. Brown, who also spoke in a panel session at the conference dubbed: “Gas-to-Power: Unlocking Africa’s Potential,” noted that Seplat Energy sees gas as integral to Africa’s gas-to-power system, and can provide 24/7 power where appropriate, or provide overnight baseload to support renewables.
“Gas is actually decarbonising Africa’s energy system, when compared to the millions of domestic and business generators in use today. It produces half the CO2 emissions of diesel and burns more cleanly without particulates,” he said.
Using the Seplat Energy ANOH Gas Plant as an example, Mr. Brown said when operational, the plant will support more than 1GW of grid-scale generation, displacing many small-scale generators.
