In a collaborative effort to explore the immense potential of the low-carbon hydrogen sector, Nigerian government has called for roadmap for hydrogen energy production in the country.
Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, made this call at the Kick-Off Stakeholders’ Interaction on Nigeria’ 4H2 P, in Abuja the nation’s capital, themed “A Critical Analysis of the Potentials, Infrastructure and Other Enabling Framework Conditions for Green Hydrogen to Fertilizer Production in Nigeria.”
According to the Minister, the aim of the gathering is to leverage the rich resource of Nigeria for a sustainable and eco-friendly energy transition.
“With our Ministry’s renewed drive to attract and mainstream frontier technology that will drive industrial growth and propel Nigeria toward becoming a One-trillion- dollar economy, we must explore new sources and advance in Science and Technology.”
” Thus, we are partnering with the consortia as a service Ministry to connect all stakeholders in the hydrogen sector’s upstream, midstream and downstream sectors” he stressed.
According to the Minister, the Ministry intends to facilitate an environment for co- development of a National Policy framework for Green Hydrogen by all stakeholders.
Thus, he says will ensure the sector’s rapid, robust and all-inclusive development.
“As you are very much aware, exploiting Nigeria’s green hydrogen potential is at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda of our dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Let me state that there has never been a better time than now to do this.”
“I believe at the end of this meeting all the stakeholders would have jointly identified and situated the expected players in the emergent hydrogen industry value chain in Nigeria, as well as the critical technical, environmental and policy framework for the exploitation of the Green Hydrogen potential of Nigeria.” he spoke.
“The global demand for hydrogen will likely climax at about 700 million metric tons (MT) by the year 2050, with annual hydrogen production projected to increase by 9.2% annually until 2030. Therefore, there is no better time for Nigeria to plug into this opportunity to avoid playing catch-up with the Western world. As a country, Nigeria must play a critical and leading role in the global energy transition” He emphasised.
“Green hydrogen results from splitting water molecules into Hydrogen and Oxygen using electricity generated from renewable sources. It offers excellent potential to address the detrimental impacts of climate change occasioned by the release of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels into the environment while also serving as viable and sustainable pathways for alternative energy generation, industrial development, environmentally friendly transport fuel, methanol production, fertilizer production among other economic uses,”he explained.
He further emphasised that, the application of green hydrogen in fertilizer production is fast gaining attention globally adding that Ammonia, made from hydrogen, is also an input in urea fertilizer.
“This opportunity presents a significant step towards sustainable agriculture. Ammonia, synthesized from green hydrogen and nitrogen from the air, provides an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fertilizers. Reducing reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions can safeguard our environment while ensuring food security for future generations” The concerted efforts of scientists, engineers, policymakers, and industries are necessary to achieve the tall vision of a net zero carbon environment and sustainable agriculture.”
The Minister explained that the project, which the German Government supports through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), will undoubtedly contribute immensely to the diversification strategy of the Federal Government towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the country.
He appreciated the Conveners of this initiative, the specially selected team of experts and all other stakeholders in the Government, Industry, Private Sector and Academia, expressing his profound gratitude to the German government for providing the funds for this project.
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, however, emphasised on the need for Nigeria to be open to exploring opportunities in the hydrogen sector.
“In Nigeria, we have embraced our gas resources as our transition fuel, aligning with our vision to declare 2021 – 2030 as the decade of gas in the country.”
“With a proven gas reserve of 208 trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) and the implementation of appropriate policies and regulations to enhance the utilization of these resources, Nigeria stands poised to emerge as an industrialized nation,” he said.
Mr. Ekpo, described Nigeria as rich and endowed with rich oil and gas resources, thereby calling for unique opportunity to leverage its expertise and infrastructure in transitioning towards its hydrogen potential.
“This prospect for synergy between conventional and sustainable energy is vast, and we must seize this opportunity to diversify our energy portfolio.”
” This workshop serves as a nexus for collaboration,where industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators converge to carve a sustainable path forward.”
Together, let us explore the delicate balance between maintaining the resilience of our oil and gas sector and fostering the growth of green technologies” Let us collectively pioneer a roadmap that not only ensures the sustainability of our energy sector but also positions Nigeria as a key player in hydrogen technologies,” he stressed.
On her, the Head of Department of Basic Energy Research in Germany, Dr. Anassi Kerstin via zoom, said Nigeria is endowed with huge RE and natural gas resources that can exploited to produce green, blue and Turquoise H2 necessary to achieve its 2060 Net Zero goal.
Speaking further, she said the introduction of the H2 in Nigeria’s economy would present the country with alternative energy export product and also help Nigeria remain a a global player in the future energy market.
“We are supporting a wrap up of hydrogen economy. It’s not only Germany, but Iran. All over the world, Of course, we want full new hydrogen partnerships. And of course, we want to import a hydrogen.”
” But that’s a big lesson from the past. We do not do so on the expensive or partners that this is why we are funding the study here, Nigeria and Africa page two, which looks at the potentials of hydrogen ammonia production in Nigeria”.
“For Nigerians. The main goal is to reduce dependencies on others, producing hydrogenated Nigeria and subsequently green fertilizers made in Nigeria all contribute to a used for the economy.”
“Central water availability and possibility for desalination is also turned into a benefit for Nigerian stakeholders, such as households, agricultural industries, even beyond fertilizers. Although it just has a short run time the study will also provide possibility for young Africans to be mobilized to exchange with experts in Germany” she added.
Earlier, the Director West Africa Science Service Centre on Climate change and Adapted Land use (WASCAL) Mr. Kehinde Ogunjobi, noted that the workshop was an avenue for Stakeholders to collaborate in the hydrogen sectors and chat ways for new initiative and opportunity for Nigeria.
He said ” The conference is a space for dialogue where each perspective reflected will be instructed in shaping the roadmap. “
“It will guide us towards a future green hydrogen and fertilizer production will contribute to driving sustainable development in Nigeria”.
Promoting cooperation on green hydrogen production utilisation and export.
The Nigeria4H2 Study is a critical analysis of the potentias, instructure and other Enabling framework conditions for Green Hydrogen-to-fertilizer production in Nigeria.
Funding
The project sponsor is the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in collaboration with Nigeria Ministry of Education.
The German Federal foreign Office is funding the H2- diplo Decarbonization Diplomacy programme which is implemented by GIZ to support fossil fuel exporting countries in understanding the expected global demand for low -carbon H2 and it’s derivative as an opportunity for Decarbonization and diversification of their national economies in order to avoid destabilizrion due to declining economic performance from oil exports.
Duration of programme is 4 months and a budget of 342700 Euros.
The German -Nigeria hydrogen office forms part of this programme and has expanded the activities of the Nigeria-German Energy partnership established in 2008.
Project partners includes
– WASCAL
-Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, South-west Nigeria.
– Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, North-central., Nigeria.
– Are Babalola University, Ekiti State, South-west Nigeria.
– Cognity Advisory, Nigeria.
– DECHEMA e. V. Germany.
Oyenike Oyeniyi
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