A Sierra Leonean Agricultural Economist, Mr Kandeh Yumkella, has emphasised the need for Africa to transition its energy sources to cleaner alternatives in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7 before 2030.
Yumkella gave the advice at the 22nd edition of Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) program called “The Conversation”, held virtually on Thursday.
The event had as its theme: “Attaining the SDGs in Nigeria by 2030: The Role of National, Subnational, Private Sector and Community Leaders”.
Yumkella said that the emission reductions needed in this decade came from electricity system.
He called for the adoption of the Inclusive and Just Energy Transition (UNHLS 2021) program which was country specific, including availability of finance.
He added that the program was aimed at providing energy access for the 700 million Africans without electricity and the means of financing the required investments.
“Energy access is about sustaining real lives and people and not just gasses.
“Drivers of Africa’s, inclusive of Nigeria’s energy transition include; demography, growing population and urbanisation, demand for transport, and economic growth.
“Africa’s economy is projected to quadruple by 2040 with Nigeria poised to be among the top 10 economies by 2050, displacing United Kingdom and France.
“Oil demand would grow to about 3.1 million barrels daily and car fleet demand would have doubled.
“But advent of electric cars could reduce oil demand significantly.
“All these developments therefore points to the need for decarbonizing energy to engender the attainment of SDG 7,” he said.
