The Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), says policy clarity, transparency and consistency were major requirements for a sustainable energy industry.
By Yunus Yusuf
The Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), says policy clarity, transparency and consistency were major requirements for a sustainable energy industry.
Mr Farouk Ahmed, the Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA said this on Tuesday in Lagos at the ongoing 2025 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE).
The conference has as its theme “Building a Sustainable Energy Future: Leveraging Technology, Supply Chain, Human Resources and Policy”.
Ahmed noted that supply chain optimisation was also an important area that required coordinated actions, since sustainable energy depended on efficient delivery systems.
He said this would include connected gas transportation and distribution lines, virtual pipelines, commodity exchange platforms, enhanced marine & land logistics, and liberalised markets.
He added that Human Resources would continue to play critical roles across the value chain, adding that It was therefore important that excellent capacity was built in all the segments of the industry.
He said that this was considering the interdependence of operators, regulators, service providers and other support services.
According to him, this is to encourage investment and growth of the sector, considering the mobility of resources between jurisdictions and competing energy supply sources.
”The 2025 theme is apt as it reflects the strategic focus of our nation and the continent at large as we seek to achieve energy access that promotes economic development and sustainability.”
The NMDPRA boss explained that this was because the global energy landscape continued to be
impacted by strong forces of market volatility, geopolitical tensions, artificial intelligence, technological advancements, and carbon neutrality targets.
“Therefore, building a sustainable energy future requires strategic planning, dedicated actions and continuous collaboration between all industry stakeholders.
“The energy future of Nigeria is a critical driver for the attainment of the ambitious goal of growing into a $1 trillion economy by the year 2030.
“Access to affordable and clean energy is required to catalyse the strategic growth of investment across our industrial sectors and deepen the manufacturing and productive capacity of our economy.
“Nigeria therefore needs to leverage relevant resources required to meet this energy demand target in a sustainable and globally competitive manner,” he said.
Ahmed added that technology was one of the most important resources to be harnessed in this regard.
According to him, technology presents both a challenge and an opportunity to the petroleum sector. Artificial intelligence, CCSU, hydrogen technology, energy storage, smart grid, biofuels and marine technologies are among the areas that we should give special attention to.
He said that the NMDPRA was committed to supporting all the above, through carefully developed regulations and continuous stakeholder engagements.
“The NMDPRA invests heavily in technology, capacity optimisation, efficiency and policy effectiveness in the delivery of its mandates.
“We encourage operators to adopt intelligence in managing the operations and maintenance of critical infrastructures such as pipeline systems and bulk storage facilities as well as tracking and managing emissions,” he stressed.
Ahmed added that the NMDPRA would continue to collaborate with other regulatory agencies, industry players, development partners, and societies like the SPE, to ensure that the petroleum industry remained sustainable.
“We welcome suggestions and feedback that will contribute to our continuous improvement in providing excellent service to the industry.
“The target of a sustainable energy future is within reach if we act together, innovate boldly, and govern wisely.
“As regulators, we reaffirm our commitment to enabling investment, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustainability across the Midstream and Downstream Sector,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)