Petroleum Producers Raise Concerns Over Rapid Energy Transition in Africa

The African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) has expressed reservations about the swift implementation of energy transition initiatives in Nigeria and other African countries. APPO, an inter-governmental organization comprising 18 member nations in the oil and gas sector, argued that Africa stands to be disproportionately affected by the accelerated energy transition promoted by developed nations.

During the 3rd Biennial International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology, organized by the Petroleum Training Institute in Abuja, the Secretary-General of APPO, Omar Farouk, emphasized that Africa should not be compelled to halt fossil fuel exploration. He stressed that African nations, including Nigeria, have a responsibility to utilize their abundant oil and gas resources to advance their economies.

The conference's theme, "The Future of the Oil and Gas Industry: Opportunities, Challenges, and Development," prompted Farouk to highlight the potential challenges that developing countries, particularly those in Africa, may face due to rapid energy transition. He pointed out that if anticipated technological advancements in renewable energy research do not materialize as expected, and the oil and gas industry is prematurely abandoned, it could lead to a global energy supply shortage benefiting only wealthy nations.