There are indications that gas will continue to play a role in Africa’s energy transition, according to Oando Energy Resources.

Speaking at the CNN interview monitored by The Daily, https://thedaily-ng.com, Friday, Dr. Alex Irune, Chief Operating Officer, Oando Energy Resources, said: “Gas is a key component of that transition. We see gas playing a huge role in the energy mix moving forward, we see gas as the catapult that will certainly move Africa into an industrialized phase. Renewables from a cost perspective, present a bit of a challenge for the continent, all the same, it’s not taken out of the equation it’s certainly something we’ll continue to look at and invest in but we see gas being the immediate transition and the support structure.

“We, as a country export a significant amount of our crude to European countries and Asia whilst the rest of Africa in a sense that requires these products isn’t able to trade as freely. And this is no fault of the government.  It’s about the union, is about creating free trade like you talked about, borderless countries, the movement of value across the borders to enhance the development of this continent.

“It’s exciting when you’re able to develop your assets and supply gas in conjunction with the government. But what’s more exciting is that we can take this model and duplicate it and create more of this around the country. Certainly, the private sector has a huge role to play, investment is required, the country is open for business and I think it’s important that as private sector players, we realize that the provision of electricity whether it be capture power or grid power is solely not the government role.”

On renewable, he said: “Whatever we choose to do has to be sustainable. Moving into that renewable energy space, we must ensure that whatever technologies we choose to go into can bring those supply chain into the country, develop the skills, ensure that the feedstock is here localized, ensure that the manufacturing and production are localized, and ensure that the distribution channels and consumption is possible.

“In the event, we can’t, it’s clear the feedstock will have to come from other countries, and from an energy independence standpoint, we want to focus on the sources that can be localized, to create jobs. I don’t think we’ll be talking about computer communication, the internet, big data, without power. So, if Africa is going to play a significant role in that economy, then we must gear ourselves up to at least have the foundation to do so.”