OTC 2025: Lokpobiri urges united African front against energy poverty

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has called on African countries to unite in the fight against energy poverty, urging them to develop coordinated strategies suited to the continent’s specific challenges.Lokpobiri made the appeal during the opening of the Nigerian Pavilion, hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, United States.Themed “Africa’s Energy Renaissance: Leveraging Innovation and Natural Gas for Sustainable Development,” the 2025 PETAN conference is focused on repositioning Africa’s energy sector to harness innovation and natural resources for long-term development.

In his remarks, Lokpobiri warned that disjointed policies would not be sufficient to address Africa’s growing energy needs. He urged African nations to adopt unified, Africa-centred approaches to energy policy and planning.“This conference is not a jamboree.



It is a platform for Nigeria, and by extension, Africa, to showcase its vast potential,” he said.He spoke of the importance of collaboration among African states and pointed to the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) as a key institution working to devise collective strategies for tackling the continent’s energy challenges.Lokpobiri also commented on global energy policy, stating his belief that the international push for energy transition has disadvantaged Africa.

He expressed support for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to office, claiming it may slow what he described as the “hypocritical” global energy agenda.

According to him, geopolitical interests continue to dominate the discourse on energy transition.In response to these issues, he announced that APPO is working with Afrexim Bank to establish the African Energy Bank, a financial institution aimed at closing funding gaps and ultimately ending energy poverty on the continent.“This is an opportunity to let you know that your concerns are gradually being addressed,” Lokpobiri said.

“As members of APPO, we are in partnership with Afrexim Bank, which during our last meeting disclosed that it has an exposure of nearly $14 billion. This amount, along with an additional $5 billion as the initial take-off capital, will be transferred to the African Energy Bank—bringing the total to over $19 billion.”He confirmed that the bank is expected to commence operations within the current quarter and called on African nations to return investments held abroad and channel them into the African Energy Bank to strengthen the continent’s energy independence.

During a bilateral meeting, Lokpobiri urged Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdullahi, to take lessons from Nigeria’s earlier years in the oil and gas industry to avoid common pitfalls.Abdullahi, in turn, acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership in the region and affirmed Ghana’s commitment to learning from its neighbour’s policies and reforms, particularly in local content development and climate strategy.“We will continue to consult Nigeria as we build a successful oil and gas industry.

The collaboration between both countries remains strong,” he said.In his own remarks, PETAN Chairman Wole Ogunsanya spoke about the strategic importance of Nigeria’s participation at OTC, describing the Nigerian Pavilion as a space to draw global attention to Africa’s expanding role in the energy sector.“This year’s event, under the Nigerian Pavilion, is set to draw focus to Africa’s growing role in the global energy sector,” Ogunsanya said.

“OTC 2025 promises to bring together top-tier industry leaders, olicymakers, and stakeholders at the world’s largest energy event.”He noted that PETAN’s consistent involvement over the years has played a key role in developing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Recalling PETAN’s mandate from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) two decades ago, he said the aim has always been to attract foreign investment and build strategic alliances.

Ogunsanya further stressed the need for Nigeria to continue enhancing its capacity and generating value throughout the oil and gas value chain.The event was attended by high-level Nigerian government officials, key industry players, exhibitors, and delegates from several West African countriesThe post OTC 2025: Lokpobiri urges united African front against energy poverty appeared first on Nigerian NewsDirect..