NPA CE honored at Africa Public Sector Awards

The Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards 2024 (APSCA) has conferred the 2024 Visionary Leadership Award on the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid.

The award is in recognition of Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s unwavering dedication to driving optimistic change and innovation within the public sector.

APSCA has additionally honored the NPA because the 2024 Africa Top 50 Innovative Public Sector Agency on the fifth APSCA held in Gaborone, Botswana.

It is recognition of NPA’s distinctive innovation and affect in delivering public providers.

Earlier, in a speech on “Innovation in Energy: Key to a Sustainable Future” on the APSCA 2024, held in Gaborone, Botswana from 2nd to 4th October 2024, a Deputy Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr. Perry Okudzeto urged African nations to put money into vitality innovation and infrastructure to make sure a sustainable future for the continent’s rising cities.

He mentioned the way forward for vitality in Africa lies in innovation and indicated that nowhere is that this extra evident than within the discipline of renewable vitality.

“Africa is blessed with abundant natural resources that can power a sustainable energy future”, he mentioned.

The convention was held on the theme: “Promoting Innovation for Sustainable Development.”

Mr. Okudzeto mentioned the way forward for vitality throughout Africa is filled with promise, and indicated that whether or not it’s by means of renewable vitality tasks, or clear cooking options, vitality innovation has the ability to remodel lives, uplift communities, and drive financial progress.

“As we move forward, let us commit to investing in energy innovation, building the infrastructure of tomorrow, and creating a future where every African has access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. Together, we can power not just homes and industries but the hopes and dreams of millions of people across our continent”, he mentioned.

Mr Okudzeto famous that in line with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Africa might generate as much as 22% of its vitality from renewable sources by 2030.

“Solar vitality alone has the potential to remodel complete areas, notably in areas the place the grid can not attain. Moreover, renewable vitality presents an unimaginable alternative for job creation.

“In fact, the African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that transitioning to a green economy could create up to 3.3 million new direct green jobs across the continent by 2030, with the majority in the renewable energy sector, particularly solar. These are not just jobs in energy production but also in manufacturing, maintenance, and research and development”, he mentioned.

Mr. Okudzeto mentioned to make vitality accessible and reasonably priced, Africa should leverage sensible applied sciences that improve the effectivity of the continent’s vitality programs.

He mentioned Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven vitality administration programs supply a glimpse into the long run, the place energy is distributed extra intelligently throughout city grids.

“AI systems could predict energy demand, allowing utilities to adjust supply in real time. Energy flows only where it is needed, and waste is minimized”, he mentioned.

The Deputy NPA CE known as for Public-Private Partnerships and important funding in vitality infrastructure within the coming many years.

“While governments have a crucial position in driving vitality innovation, public-private partnerships (PPPs) are important for scaling these options.

“The private sector brings the necessary investment, technology, and expertise, while governments provide the regulatory framework that ensures success,” he mentioned.

Mr. Okudzeto mentioned whereas renewables are being developed, pure gasoline has been established because the bridging gas for vitality transition because of its low carbon emissions in comparison with coal and crude oil.

He mentioned some cities in Africa are main the way in which through the use of pure gasoline as an alternative choice to different fossil fuels for energy technology—thereby lowering emissions, notably in transportation, and making certain secure electrical energy.

He mentioned well being outcomes in city and rural households, particularly in areas the place conventional biomass continues to be used for cooking, can nonetheless be improved by shifting to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and different cleaner types of vitality, for cooking”, he pressured.

Mr. Okudzeto mentioned vitality transition in Africa can’t be approached with the identical methods utilized in wealthier areas.

“We must produce and consume more carbon in the short-to-medium term to bridge our development gap, even as we aggressively pursue renewable energy solutions. After all, the key to sustainable development is not just about moving toward clean energy but ensuring that no one is left behind as we do so”, he mentioned.