Today marks the first celebration of the International Day of Clean Energy, which aims to raise awareness of the need for a just and inclusive transition to the use of clean energy. This new global observance, which will hold annually on 26 February is also a reminder of Goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that is, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030.
Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP) was introduced in 2022. A framework of strategies for achieving carbon-neutrality by 2060, it aims to bring about emissions reductions principally in sectors such as power, transport, cooking, industries and oil and gas, which are responsible for 65% of national emissions.
Implementation of the ETP will require Nigeria to spend $10 billion above its usual spending in these sectors. This is a huge challenge given dwindling public revenues. Nevertheless, the transition to a low carbon economy is crucial for minimizing the impacts of a changing climate.
For the power sector, generative capacity has to shift from being mainly derived from off-grid diesel/petrol generators to the greater use of cleaner energy from renewable sources, for example, solar, wind, water. Consequently, the ETP promotes the establishment and expansion of renewable energy enterprises, whether on a mini-grid or off-grid basis, although in the interim, natural gas use will be increased as a transitory fuel.
In the transport sector, the key strategy is the transition to the use of electric vehicles and biofuel blending and for the cooking sector, transitioning away from traditional cooking fuels such as firewood, charcoal, and kerosene to the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electrification and biogas.
The clean energy transition will inevitably lead to job losses in the oil and gas sector due to the reduction in demand for and use of fossil fuels . However, this outcome has to be balanced with the expected investments and employment opportunities from the establishment of clean energy-focused enterprises.
Ultimately, it is the availability and affordability of clean technologies in the medium-long term that will determine the extent to which Nigeria can successfully implement the ETP by 2060.