LAGOS – The Africa Gas Innovation Sum­mit (AGIS),has emphasised the urgent need for innovation in Africa’s energy landscape.

With new players like Gha­na, Tanzania, Senegal, Mauri­tania, Mozambique, Namibia, and Uganda joining traditional leaders such as Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Gabon, and Angola,

Africa’s vast gas resources present a path to a sustainable future with new players like Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, Mau­ritania, Mozambique, Namibia, and Uganda joining traditional leaders such as Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Gabon, and Angola, ac­cording to the summit.

“Our easiest path to a sus­tainable future lies in our gas resources and the shortest path to developing these gas resourc­es is through collaboration and innovation”, said Salahuddeen Tahir Chairman, Society of Pe­troleum Engineers (SPE), Ni­geria Council, said at the event held in Abuja .

Despite the potentials, sever­al challenges persists.

“Africa’s energy sector is at a critical juncture, facing chal­lenges such as financing gaps, technological and skills deficien­cies, high production costs, in­adequate infrastructure, global pressure for cleaner energy, and security concerns”, Tahir said.

Envisioned as Africa’s pre­mier annual gas event, AGIS is set to rotate across African states in the future, serving as a hub for the exchange of ideas on har­nessing Africa’s gas resources to drive economic growth and prosperity. This summit pro­motes the Penta Helix model, engaging government, industry, academia, the entrepreneurial community, and venture finan­cial institutions to foster inno­vation.

It is hoped that this inaugu­ral edition of AGIS will herald a new era of innovation and col­laboration aimed at leveraging Africa’s abundant gas resources for sustainable development.

“Collaborative initiatives, such as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and the Tanza­nia-Uganda Gas Pipeline, high­light the importance of coop­eration. Moreover, the African Energy Bank (AEB) establish­ment by Afreximbank and the Africa Petroleum Producers Or­ganisation (APPO) underscores the collective efforts required to support African gas producers,” Tahir said.

Speaking, Mallam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petro­leum Company (NNPC) Limit­ed, represented by Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, NNPC Ltd, emphasized Nigeria’s substantial natural gas resources and their potential to address energy deficiencies and drive economic growth. Kyari reiterated NNPC’s com­mitment to sustainable energy solutions through various gas infrastructure projects, floating LNG projects, and initiatives to commercialize gas.