Shell Sets Target to Provide Electricity to 100 Million People By 2030

by Ikenna Omeje

Royal Dutch Shell has set a target to provide reliable electricity to 100 million people without electricity in emerging markets by 2030, in its commitment towards helping achieve universal access to clean and affordable energy.

A significant number of the global population does not have access to electricity, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Shell, which announced in February 2021 that it has refreshed its business strategy with what it called Powering Progress, in response to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, said it powers millions of lives by providing energy for homes, businesses and transport, for cooking, heating, and lighting.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Dutch Shell, Ben Van Beurden, stated this in the company’s 2020 Sustainability Report, released recently. The report highlighted what Shell is doing with regards to its climate target, environment, social investment, among others.

“We power millions of lives by providing energy for homes, businesses and transport, for cooking, heating, and lighting. We power lives by paying taxes, boosting local economies, and developing people. We also do this by helping achieve universal access to clean, affordable energy. Our ambition, by 2030, is to provide reliable electricity to 100 million consumers in emerging markets who do not yet have it,” Beurden said.

“Powering Progress sets out our goals for powering lives and livelihoods, and respecting nature by protecting the environment. It lays out how we believe Shell can and must play a role as the world accelerates towards a future of zero- and lower-carbon energy. It is designed to integrate sustainability with our business strategy.”

Shell is among energy giants who have set targets to transform into a net-zero emissions energy businesses by 2050, in support of the ambitious goal to tackle climate change in the United Nations Paris Agreement: to limit the rise in average global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Beurden said, “Becoming a net-zero emissions energy business means that we are reducing emissions from our operations, and from the fuels and other energy products we sell to our customers. It also means capturing and storing emissions safely underground using technology or balancing them with natural carbon sinks such as forests.

“We have set short-, medium- and long-term targets to reduce the carbon intensity of the energy products we sell and have tied the short-term targets to our staff incentive structure. This includes lowering emissions from our operations, including the energy consumed in running them. It also includes the emissions from oil and gas that others produce, and we then sell in our energy products – an industry-leading approach.”

He noted that while the company has made progress in diversity and inclusion over the years, there is still room for improvement in this regard. Speaking on gender equality, he said that as at the end of 2020, women occupied 27.8 percent in senior leadership positions at Shell.

“In 2020, the death of George Floyd and its aftermath underscored society’s problem with racism. Shell is part of society, and while we may have made advances in diversity and inclusion over the years, we must acknowledge that we can do much better. For Shell, for me and the Executive Committee, these events have led us to seek a deeper personal exposure to racial injustice in Shell. We cannot take a stand in society, nor be a force for good, if we do not first fix ourselves.

“In 2020, we launched a global Diversity and Inclusion Council for Race, which I sponsor. The council aims to build on our actions to advance diversity in our workforce, so it better reflects communities where we work and from which we draw talent. We will report publicly on our progress.

“We are making advances in gender equality. At the end of 2020, the proportion of women in senior leadership positions at Shell was 27.8 percent, an increase from 26.4 percent in 2019. We aim to achieve 30 percent representation of women in these positions by the end of 2021, 35 percent by 2025 and 40 percent by 2030.”

Solar Power Naija: An Enabler for Economic Growth

By Ikenna Omeje

The kickoff of Solar Power Naija Programme by the Federal Government on Friday, April 9, 2021, in Jangefe, Jigawa state, is commendable, as the programme will increase access to electricity in the country and lead to economic growth and development, especially in off grid communities.

The programme, which was scheduled to kick off in December 2020, but never did, was formerly launched by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, with funfair in Jangefe.

Access to electricity is one of the major challenges hindering the economic growth of the African giant, Nigeria. The World Bank in June last year approved $750 million for the country under what it called “Power Sector Recovery Operation (PSRO)”, to improve the reliability of electricity supply, achieve financial and fiscal sustainability, and enhance accountability in the power sector.

The Bank, however, noted: “About 47 percent of Nigerians do not have access to grid electricity and those who do have access, face regular power cuts. In addition, the economic cost of power shortages in Nigeria is estimated at around $28 billion – equivalent to two percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Getting access to electricity ranks as one of the major constraints for the private sector according to the 2020 Doing Business report. Hence, improving power sector performance, particularly in the nonoil sectors of manufacturing and services, will be central to unlocking economic growth post COVID-19.”

As at 2018, access to electricity in Nigeria was 56.5 percent, according to the World Bank, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL ) database from the SE4ALL Global Tracking Framework led jointly by the World Bank, International Energy Agency, and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme.

Solar Power Naija Programme, which will provide solar home systems to 5 million Nigerian households within 12 months, as part of the Economic Sustainability Plan, will deliver electricity to 25 million Nigerians and create 250,000 jobs.

Under the programme, the Federal Government is giving support to Solar Home System manufacturers and the bulk procurement of local meters.

Announcing the kickoff of the programme via his verified Twitter handle, Osinbajo said: “Under our Econonic Sustainability Plan, this power solution programme was designed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with the aim of powering 5 Million households through a N140 Billion financing programme for private developers.

“Kicking off in Jangefe, Jigawa state, we have planned a rollout across all 6 geopolitical zones in the country, reaching our 36 states, and ensuring that Nigerians have access to cheap and environmentally friendly renewable power.

“The President had previously emphasized the need to diversify and decentralize power supply, and with the Covid-19 pandemic causing economic fallouts, implementing off-grid solutions like solar power became the best route.

“Through renewable solar power, we can cross off several goals at once – provide accessible power supply, while creating jobs for thousands in the solar industry, as well as those looking to join in.

“This public-private sector partnership is supported by concessionary lending via the CBN and commercial banks. Subsidies and rebates to the tune of $200Million have also been set to ensure affordability for our final consumers – the people.”

The kickoff of Solar Power Naija Programme by the Federal Government, demonstrates its commitments to meeting global target on energy for all. Nigeria is signatory to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN), to which the Goal 7 focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. Effective implementation of this programme will accelerate access to electricity in off grid communities, empower rural dwellers economically and help the country to a large extent towards achieving SDG Goal 7.

Port of Antwerp Partners Nigeria Shippers’ Council on training, Consultancy

The management of the Port of Antwerp on Thursday offered training and consultancy opportunity on port efficiency to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).

Mr. Philippe Droesbeke, Manager, Port Projects, Port of Antwerp International, made this offer during a courtesy visit to the council in Lagos, noting that the opportunity would ensure Nigerian ports were modernised.

The Port of Antwerp is the port of the City of Antwerp, located in Flanders (Belgium), mainly in the province of Antwerp but also partially in the province of East Flanders.

It is a seaport in the heart of Europe accessible to capesize ships, reputed as Europe’s second-largest seaport after Rotterdam.

Droesbeke said the port’s management was offering its experience and partnership to Nigerian institutions, organisations and companies in the maritime sector.

“We have a long-lasting history in the Port of Antwerp, and we are here to offer our experience and partnership with Nigerian institutions, organisations and companies in the maritime sector. “We have a very good reference for cold chain, especially with perishables that will be offered for export,” he said.

He noted that multimodality was an approach Nigeria should adopt as solution to congestion at Nigerian ports, urging the country to shift from the road to other modalities such as barges.

Droesbeke said The Port of Antwerp had the capacity of 140 million tonnes of cargo in a year due to its multimodal approach.

He explained that trains had 50 per cent, barges 40 per cent and trucks 10 per cent.

He urged the country to invest in its port, adding that with the steady growth in cargo flow, there was need to acquire the right equipment to achieve efficiency.

Responding, Mr. Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary, NSC, pointed out that the council was always interested in interconnectivity and having the country’s dry ports meet international expectations.

“We need to know how the dry port will look like in Nigeria economy, especially for our exports, as we want to make them export centres and the infrastructure that is necessary to make them full port.

“If they are port of destination or origin, they have to be well equipped with rail. We have one operating in Kaduna, but the rail capacity is not anything to be proud of.

“There are other things that must be incorporated like consolidation centres, stripping of containers, warehousing, companies that processes and add value to agricultural products and also packaging companies.

“These and so many other things are areas in which we may have interest and we will study the course and discuss on the concept that needs to be adopted,” Bello said.

He added that Nigeria wanted a modern port, and so needed to start right from the beginning to have the indices that would ensure the country would not face the same challenges with previous ports.

Also speaking during the courtesy visit, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce in Lagos, Paulette Van Trier, expressed delight at the meeting, saying that the chamber had been working assiduously to improve trade between both countries.

“We are trying to ensure produce to the ports is timely so that the goods can get to the international market and spread all around the world.

“We hope that we can work together, have a positive partnership, and improve exports from Nigeria, thanks to Shippers’ Council.

“As a chamber, we are not asking for money. We just want farmers and other exporters to know how the process is done globally.

“We are providing Nigerians with examples via teachings and training to make people aware of global best standards and practices,” Van Trier said.

Ship Pollution: NIMASA To Ensure Availability of Sulphur Compliant Fuel

...Describes Complex as Development Milestone

Daniel Terungwa

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has expressed its determination to ensure availability of marine fuels that comply with the regulation by the International Maritime Organisation, IMF, limiting the Sulphur in the fuel oil used on board ships to 0.50 per cent m/m (mass by mass).

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, stated this recently in Lagos at the opening of a two-day meeting of the Agency with modular and other refinery operators and fuel oil suppliers in the country.

Jamoh who was represented by the Acting Head, Marine Environment Management (MEM) Department, NIMASA, Mr. Isa Mudi, said the Agency had made deliberate effort to conform to the new fuel oil mandate, known as IMO 2020.

“As the country’s shipping regulator, we have had interfaces with the relevant stakeholders on how to reach a win-win agreement on Nigeria’s compliance with the IMO Sulphur content cap. We are happy to announce that the coast is clear for us to achieve this mandate.

“Nigeria has advantage ab initio because we produce low Sulphur crude. The challenge for us now is conversion of this advantage to availability of bunker fuels that meet the IMO mandate,” said Jamoh.

The DG boosted that Nigeria possess the capacity to become the bunker fuel hub for Sub-Saharan Africa and that there is a $2 billion bunker fuel market in Sub-Saharan Africa waiting to be harnessed by the country’s businessmen and women.

Jamoh added, “Our refineries are not working at full-capacity, and this is an opportunity for the modular and other private refineries to come in to fill a vital gap in the marine fuel supply chain. Bunker fuel is a critical element in the shipping business.

“With the coming into effect of IMO 2020, we assure you

NPA Overhauls Cabinet, Appoints New Executives

Daniel Terungwa

The Nigerian Ports Authority has announced the appointment of four new General Managers and eight Assistant General Managers with immediate effect.

The appointment, according to a press release signed by the Assistant General Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications, Ibrahim Nasiru, is in furtherance of the management’s commitment to motivating its workforce and building a formidable succession plan in line with the federal character principle. The newly appointed General Managers are Olaseni Alakija, who becomes General Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications, Patricia Aboh, General Manager Servicom; Engr. Sylvester Nwankwo, General Manager, MD’s Office and Engr Anthonia Ohagwa, General Manager, ICT

While the newly appointed Assistant General Managers are Naphtali Pella, now AGM, Audit (Finance & Investment); Adesina Salau, AGM, Land & Estate, Zainab Dantiye, AGM, Administration, and Nansel Zhimwan, AGM, Corporate & Strategic Communications.

Others include Benjamin Oluyori; AGM, Enterprise & Risk Management, Ruth Boyo, AGM, Investments, Engr. Mukhtar Isah, AGM, Civil, and Felix Adekunle AGM, ICT (Network & Communications).

With these appointments, the Authority boasts of a total number of 21 General Managers and 60 Assistant General Managers.

While congratulating the new appointees, the Authority charged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by discharging their duties responsibly.