By Adedapo Adesanya 

The federal government has announced plans to launch a roadmap for hydrogen gas production as Nigeria sets its sights on energy security.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, who made the announcement, said the President Bola Tinubu-led administration was committed to unlocking the full potential of the country’s natural gas resource for national growth and development.

To achieve this, Mr Ekpo at the American Energy Summit in New Orleans, said the federal government was committed to partnering with genuine investors.

The Minister on his official X handle said, “The federal government is committed to partnering with genuine investors in unlocking the full potential of the country’s natural gas resource for national growth and development.

“Nigeria is set to launch a road map for hydrogen gas production project, a move that would ensure energy security for the country.”

Hydrogen can alleviate Nigeria’s ongoing energy problem, generate new employment opportunities, and cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases. It has been touted as one way to decarbonise the economy and secure future growth.

Forecasts indicate that demand for hydrogen will soar from an expected 87 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2020 to between 500 and 680 million MT in 2050.

It is also believed that the sector could experience yearly growth of up to 9.2 per cent until 2030. Currently, 2 per cent of the world’s coal and 6 per cent of its natural gas are consumed in the creation of hydrogen.

In Nigeria, about 92 million people out of the country’s 200 million population lack electricity, the lowest access globally.

Nigeria plans to create 30,000MW by 2030 to close this gap, with 3,000MW of that increase coming from renewable energy sources to service its 200 million citizens.