The time is not right for Africa to stop using fossil fuels, according to Engr. Dr. Samuel E. Onoji, Principal/Chief Executive, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI). Instead, research should be done on how to create indigenous technologies that allow for the more environmentally friendly extraction and use of gas and oil. Onoji said the institute has taken a daring step to begin research and development efforts that take cognizance of the peculiarity of Africa’s hydrocarbon situation, while speaking at a press conference to mark the 4TH Biennial International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology (ICHST) in Abuja.Given that Africa has an estimated 125 billion barrels of crude oil reserves and more than 600 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, we believe that rather than rushing to phase out fossil fuels, Africa should work to advance local technology research and development that will allow for the more environmentally friendly exploitation and use of our oil and gas endowment. This is because the demand for fossil fuels is expected to persist globally for the next 50 years.
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