From Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
A multinational firm, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, TEPNG/NNPCL Joint Ventures, has solicited for investment on renewable energy, stressing that it will reduce the impact of climate change in the environment.
Mr Obi Imemba, Executive Director, JV Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, who made the call, while speaking with journalists at a recent programmes “Project Make in Nigeria”, an innovative summit to encourage local produce, held in Port Harcourt, stressed the need to protect the environment from activities leading to further pollution.
He said organisations should diversify in their means of producing energy.
Imemba explained that “Climate Change is a global challenge and we believe that whatever we do, if want a sustainable future for all of us, we need to make sure that our activities are not detrimental to the environment. Anything you do whether is production, even farming or energy production, they have impact on our environment.
“We are soliciting that whatever we do , we should make sure that the impact on our environment is mitigated. We must integrate environmental responsibility in every activity that we undertake. The guy that is burning his fuel, running generator, we encourage those people to move toward solar energy. We encouraging that we should as much as possible do not do vandalisation and burn crude. Those are leading to pollution and causing environmental issues”.
The TotalEnergies ED further advised Nigerians on the need for environmental accountability and responsibility across board.
He said: “We are providing renewable energy in TotalEnergies. So we are now providing more spectrum of energy: Oil, gas, solar, wind, hydrogen, biomass, green electricity, there will be more spectrum of energy that will emerge.
“We are encouraging people to diversify their energy means, moving from the conventional fossil to integrate renewable energy. In that way we have Net Zero Emission by 2050. So if we are bringing more hydrocarbons, we should bring hydrocarbons that have less carbon emissions. We are producing more energy with less emissions”.
Expressing delight on the program, Imemba said it was an interesting initiative, exhibiting local products and trying to encourage local content. He revealing that “in TotalEnergies that is exactly what we promote. Trying to promote local development at wherever we operate.
“We identified with this initiative and that is why we have brought our skilled acquisition trainees from our communities to come and exhibit in this conference”.
He said TotalEnergies acknowledging the benefit of local production, supported the convener of the programme in achieving it success.
“I see this as just the beginning and for us in TotalEnergies, we will continue to partner with people who bring this kind of initiative trying to promote local talent, local development and empowerment of young people, especially the focus on empowering young people and that is part of our objectives”.
Also speaking, convener of Project Make in Nigeria, Mr Uche Onochie, said the purpose for the programme was to encourage Rivers, Niger Delta people and Nigerians on the need to have local produce that will brand as a productive nation across the globe.
He said “This is the 13th year of this programme but to the glory of God, we have TotalEnergies sponsoring us this year. What we are trying to do, it takes awhile and it will yield fruit. We are building responsible citizens, entrepreneurs, those who will develop business ideas for the development of their community and Nigeria at large. We will continue to deliver value”.
He further called on the state government for support. “This is a government project. But government cannot do it on their own they do it in partnership with private sector, with people that can deliver. We want the support of the Rivers State government in buying the business idea”.
