Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it will work with TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited and other international oil companies to increase investments in renewable energy projects in the Niger Delta region, in order to reduce the impact of climate change in the region.
NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, speaking in Port Harcourt during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the TotalEnergies, affirmed the importance of sustainable partnerships in driving development process.
Ogbuku said that the Commission had gone into a mutually beneficial relationship with the Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries, for OPTS members to by pay more attention to infrastructural development in their host communities.
He harped on sustainable partnerships that would benefit the region, citing the partnership between the NDDC and Shell in the construction of Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State as an example, saying that the Commission would replicate that model with TotalEnergies, Chevron and other oil companies, to achieve stating that more development in the region.
“Climate Change is real and the oil companies should help by reducing gas flaring and other forms of pollution. We need to protect our communities by investing more in clean energy sources. On our own part, we are focusing more on solar energy to help in combating climate change.”
Earlier, the Executive Director, Joint Venture Assets, TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited, Mr. Obi Imemba, said his company had made important investments in the renewable energy sector and implemented several initiatives that were already impacting the Nigerian energy landscape positively.
Imemba stressed the need to protect the environment from activities leading to further pollution, and urged private and government organisations to diversify their means of producing energy.
“Our goal is to provide the energy that the world needs. We started in oil and gas, and now we are providing energies in the form of solar, hydrogen, green electricity and others. We are here in Nigeria for the long haul, even though some IOCs are exiting Nigeria, that is not in our plan.
“Our focus henceforth is on sustainability and our sustainability programme is anchored on four pillars, which are climate and sustainable energy, care for the environment, creating shared values for communities and people’s wellbeing.
“In recent years, our projects have been targeted at driving down our green-house gas emissions; and pursuing a zero-flare principle on all our new projects
“We are providing renewable energy in TotalEnergies and we are encouraging people to diversify their energy means, moving from the conventional fossil to renewable energy. we should bring hydrocarbons that have less carbon emissions.”
