Petroleum engineers lament gas waste, skills exodus in oil and gas sector
Petroleum engineers, under the umbrella of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), have expressed deep concerns over the large-scale waste of oil and gas resources, particularly natural gas, in Nigeria.
Speaking at the inaugural Oilda Fireside Chat in Lagos, the Africa Regional Director of SPE, Engr Riverson Oppong, attributed the wastage to poor infrastructure and limited industrial capacity.
According to a statement issued by the SPE, Oppong observed that, unlike Ghana, which has made efficient gas utilisation a national priority, Nigeria continues to flare gas that could otherwise support industrial growth and energy security.
“The professional body also raised concerns about the extensive resource wastage within Nigeria’s petroleum industry, where inadequate infrastructure and limited industrial capacity have restricted the effective use of produced gas,” the statement read.
The Regional Director called on African governments to fast-track industrial development in order to create domestic demand for the continent’s abundant natural gas reserves.
He asserted that petroleum remains Africa’s most accessible energy resource, making it a crucial driver of economic advancement.
Beyond resource mismanagement, Oppong warned that Africa is grappling with a severe skills exodus, as highly trained professionals and young talent leave in search of better opportunities abroad.
He cautioned that this mass emigration poses a serious threat to the continent’s ability to develop local expertise needed for industrial and technological progress within the energy sector.
Oppong attributed the worsening skills gap to leadership shortcomings, stating that the departure of skilled personnel has undermined Africa’s energy workforce.
Meanwhile, the SPE disclosed that it is working on setting up an advisory board of experts tasked with developing strategies to tackle the continent’s energy challenges.
To mitigate the effects of talent shortages, Oppong detailed the SPE’s commitment to providing educational and professional development opportunities for African energy experts.
“In response to the urgent need to curb skills flight and adopt technological innovations that will shape Africa’s energy future, SPE Africa has initiated plans to establish an advisory board comprising experts from across the continent. The goal is to devise forward-thinking strategies that will tackle Africa’s existing energy deficits,” he explained.
As part of these efforts, he said, the organisation aims to spearhead innovations that will facilitate the decarbonisation of the petroleum industry in a way that is both cost-efficient and economically viable.
He cited carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a proven technique that offers valuable reservoir engineering benefits.
“SPE’s professional learning initiatives have already hosted over 600 virtual events, providing a platform for experts to exchange insights and expertise across the continent,” the statement continued.
Additionally, Oppong highlighted the SPE’s “Energy 4 Me” initiative, which engages college and university students, as well as PetroWiki, a technical resource hub that attracts over a million daily visits.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers underscored the importance of decarbonising Africa’s petroleum sector, positioning it as a key component of the continent’s broader strategy to navigate global energy transition pressures.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to equipping members with the necessary expertise for decarbonisation and energy transition, asserting that minimising the carbon footprint of fossil fuels is essential for achieving economic growth while ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy.
Oppong stressed that while the global movement towards net-zero emissions has significantly influenced energy policies, the focus is gradually shifting from phasing out fossil fuels to transforming the way they are produced and utilised.
