Total Incorporates Nigeria in 2050 Zero Carbon Emissions Plan
Peter Uzoho
Multinational oil and gas company, Total Group, said it has incorporated Nigeria in its plan of achieving zero carbon emissions in production activities by 2050, as part of its drive to address global climate challenge as a responsible energy major.
The Managing Director of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mike Sangster, disclosed this recently, in his presentation at the virtual Nigeria Energy Transformation Summit (NEITS) organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria, with the theme: “Changing Global Energy Landscape: Strategies for Industry Sustainability”.
“At the group level, Total’s ambition is to become the responsible energy major and to get to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. This consists of three major steps: Net Zero on Operations by 2050 or sooner (scope 1+2), Net Zero in Europe by 2050 or sooner (scope 1+2+3), 60 per cent or more Net Carbon
Intensity reduction by 2050 (scope 1+2+3),” Sangster said.
According to him, in order to achieve these objectives, Total has identified some key initiatives such as promoting the use of natural gas, biogas and hydrogen.
These, he explained as, “investing in low carbon electricity, mainly from renewables, investing in low cost oil and biofuels, investing in carbon sinks that are essential to achieving carbon neutrality, either nature-based solutions or carbon capture and storage.
“I hope I have convinced you that Total is strongly positioning for sustainability”
Sangster noted that the company would also apply the foregoing approach in Nigeria with a focus on gas and low cost oil.
He added that the company remained keen to continue to invest in Nigeria and to contribute constructively to the ongoing debate about the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
He advised that whatever comes out as the new petroleum law must provide attractive terms and a win-win solution for the country and investors in the industry.
Sangster said: “We welcome the efforts being made by the authorities to define a long-term framework for the oil and gas industry that provides clarity and certainty. But it must also provide attractive terms and a win-win solution for the country and investors in order to entice sufficient capital in an ever more competitive world.
“A progressive, win-win PIB could be the catalyst needed for a new wave of investment in
Nigeria instead of other countries and hence contribute to the sustainability of the oil and gas industry.
“It is my expectation that this summit will come up with ideas and implementable decisions which can guide both industry and government in repositioning Nigeria’s oil and gas industry for sustainability.”
Commenting on energy transition, Sangster said that Total would continue to strike balance between enabling the energy transition by investing in new energies such as solar and wind power and continuing to provide oil and gas to meet the needs of customers and society.
He maintained that Total wants to be part of the solution to climate change with a commitment to delivering affordable and clean energy to the population.
Sangster added: “We have made important investments locally in this area and implemented several initiatives that are already impacting the Nigerian energy landscape positively.
“Some of these include: over 1.5 million people in Nigeria have been impacted from sale of 400,000 Total solar lamps since 2013, according to Global LightingOff-grid Association estimates. Worldwide, 10 million people have been impacted. Out of our 577 service stations across the country, more than 77 have been solarised as at the end of January 2020.
“It is an ongoing programme and our target is to ensure that our stations all become solarized. We have also deployed over 150 residential solar solutions across the country. Our investment in the NLNG from the beginning till now, is partly derived from our commitment to the production of cleaner and better energy.”