The Norwegian Agency for Development, NORAD has launched ‘Energy for Development’ to tackle climate change and promote access to clean energy in Nigeria and other developing countries.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with The Energy Intelligence, Svein Baera, the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, said the program is set up to transfer competence from one country to the other.
“We’re excited that Nigeria is an ideal candidate for this program. It was a hard competition which many countries would like to be a part of. Specialists within the energy industry will sit shoulder to shoulder with Nigerian counterparts and work together on various energy projects.
One of the most exciting ones, which is also important for climate change, is to reduce the gas flaring from the oil drilling platforms. This is because gas flaring is bad for both climate and the economy. The gas could be used in a better way,” he said.
The flaring of natural gas impacts public and environmental health, contributes to climate change and wastes fuel resources. Although reducing flaring is an emergent global environmental governance priority, progress has been slow.
In a document obtained by The Energy Intelligence, NORAD stated that the program strengthens the competence and capacity of the authorities to ensure effective management of the energy sector in the partner countries.
“The program emphasizes a unified approach to the sector, a necessary supplement to many other international initiatives that focus on individual projects. In particular, the program aims to help achieve a good frameworks for investment and business-friendly reforms. It also seeks resilient, effective and sustainable energy systems, and transition to low-emission energy production. Environmental management and social factors will be emphasized, not least in matters relating to renewable energy systems, to ensure a just transition.
‘Energy for Development’ is developed and adapted with a view to the needs and requests of each country and in dialogue with the authorities in the partner countries. The program will therefore have a different design and varying emphasis on different objectives in each country. In the least developed countries, efforts will focus on access to clean energy for all, while facilitating development towards low emissions and climate neutrality in the long term. In medium-income countries, the Norwegian contributions will primarily help promote energy transition and emissions reduction,” the statement added.