Stakeholders promote cleaner energy, sustainable infrastructure in Africa
THE African Refiners and Distributors Association ( ARDA), Rainoil Limited and Sahara Group have called for adoption of cleaner energy options and expansion of energy infrastructure in Africa.
The call came on the backdrop of expected huge population growth and associated incremental energy demand, projected to cause energy insecurity, as well as public health crisis if needed actions are not taken.
The organisations also called for collaboration amongst key stakeholders for sustainable project financing, as well as deployment of industry best practices within the continent.
The President of ARDA and Chief Executive Officer of SAR Refinery in Dakar, Senegal, Mme. Marième Ndoye Decraene, Nigeria’s Anibor Kragha, who is the ARDA Executive Secretary, Founder and Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie and the Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Power Plant, Mokhtar Bounour, who made this observation spoke during series of engagements during a courtesy visit by ARDA delegation to Lagos.
Given that the population of Africa, especially Nigeria, is expected to rise significantly over the next few decades, the experts emphasised that enhancing logistics and storage and distribution infrastructure remain critical to ensure that the efforts currently being made to enhance refining of petroleum products on the continent and reduce imports.
They also stressed the need to build the requisite human capital that would enable Africa to deliver a sustainable, just energy transition program that takes various countries’ socio- economic considerations into account.
Mme. Decreane, during her remarks, thanked both Sahara Group and Rainoil for granting the ARDA delegation access to their facilities and congratulated them for their impactful investments across the African energy value chain to deliver sustainable energy solutions.
She also thanked both companies, who are ARDA Executive Committee members, for their support of ARDA and stressed that the Association is committed to achieving the common goal of a unique, sustainable African Energy Transition Roadmap.
Ogbechie, while addressing the delegation noted that the next phase for the continent is to look for collaboration within Africa, adding that his company would be willing to collaborate to drive energy needs in key countries.