The Department’s proposed draft plan highlights the importance of energy transition, security, and competitiveness in the face of decreasing fuel demand. The plan encompasses various strategies such as fuel and logistics management, promoting sustainable aviation fuel, and enhancing infrastructure efficiency. Additionally, stakeholders like Ejiro Gray and Bethel Obioma emphasise the need for protecting Africa’s natural carbon sinks and leveraging natural gas reserves for sustainable energy development, as well as the media’s role in promoting sustainability narratives.
The Department has proposed a draft plan emphasizing energy transition with a focus on security and competitiveness, especially if fuel demand decreases over the next decade.
The plan includes:
- Fuel Management: Reviewing fuel reserves to ensure energy security and resilience during crises.
- Logistics Management: Adjusting fuel supply to meet declining demand while supporting greenhouse gas reduction.
- Land Transport: Reducing diesel and petrol usage and implementing hydrogen safety standards.
- Air Transport: Promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to decrease emissions, incorporating materials like used cooking oil, with SAF expected to account for 1% of aviation fuel by 2026.
- Marine Transport: Encouraging renewable energy production for cargo ships, introducing low-sulfur fuel oil (B24 VLSFO).
- Infrastructure Improvement: Enhancing fuel production and transport efficiency using digital technologies, pipelines, and EV chargers at stations.
- New Business Initiatives: Encouraging ventures in petrochemical, bioplastic, and SAF sectors, proposing mechanisms to attract investments.
In a related context, Ejiro Gray, Director of Governance and Sustainability at Sahara Group, highlighted the importance of protecting Africa’s natural carbon sinks. Her remarks were made at Asharami Square, Sahara Group’s initiative promoting sustainability. She emphasized reforestation, afforestation programs, strict conservation policies, and financial incentives to combat climate change.
Gray also advocated for the development of Africa’s natural gas reserves, noting that with over 620 trillion cubic feet of reserves in 2021, natural gas could serve as a transition fuel. She mentioned that monetizing these reserves through Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) could support sustainable energy development.
Additionally, Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, underscored the role of media in promoting sustainability. He noted that Asharami Square aims to enhance media capacity to drive accurate, impactful sustainability narratives and policy formulations.
