Efforts to promote low-carbon hydrogen for economic growth and industrialization in Nigeria have been intensified by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria and the German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office. This was disclosed during the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2023) held in Abuja, where the two offices hosted a dialogue titled “Low-Carbon Hydrogen: A Key Piece for a Just Transition”.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Annett Gunther, noted that the process is moving from oil to gas and from gas to hydrogen and other green and renewable energy sources. She highlighted that the Nigerian International “Petroleum Summit” was rebranded as the “Energy Summit” to reflect a crucial change in its outlook and increased attention given to non-traditional sources of energy.
The Country Director of GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Markus Wagner, emphasized the potential of the nascent low-carbon hydrogen economy and its associated industries for economic growth and industrialization. He identified its benefits as value creation, decent job generation, infrastructure development, and increased access to secure and affordable low-carbon energy.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Gabriel Aduda, expressed Nigeria’s interest in exploring the possibilities that the nascent hydrogen economy could create for its energy sector in his keynote address. He highlighted how low-carbon hydrogen fits into the theme of the 2023 edition of the NIES (Global Perspectives for a Sustainable Energy Future), motivated by the expected changes in the fossil fuel segment as the world pursues the energy transition agenda.
The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salisu Dahiru, expressed appreciation for the existing cooperation between Germany and Nigeria and anticipated further cooperation in implementing Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, especially on the topic of low-carbon hydrogen.
Dr. Chinnan Dikwal, Executive Vice President of the African Energy Council, also made a presentation on the opportunities and challenges of making low-carbon hydrogen a reality in Nigeria. He recommended creating a H2 accelerator program for start-ups and projects, co-locating H2 production and consumption in hydrogen valleys, and launching a hydrogen-centric regulatory regime to instill confidence for both producers and consumers of hydrogen.
During the panel discussion, Nigerian voices from the oil and gas industry, renewable energies, the public sector, academia, and NGOs shared their visions of a just transition.
Ms. Gina Lagunes, Head of the German Nigerian Hydrogen Office, emphasized Nigeria’s potential to transition towards sustainable energy, given its existing oil and gas infrastructure and know-how. She reiterated the Hydrogen Office’s commitment to providing advisory services for the creation of an enabling framework for low-carbon hydrogen, developing capacity in the public and private sectors, and civil society, as well as offering support to the private sector and specific projects.
