Oando Energy Resources (OER), a subsidiary of leading energy group Oando PLC, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, to discuss the company’s role in advancing the nation’s gas-to-power ambitions and the broader potential of domestic gas utilisation.

The meeting, which underscored the growing partnership between the private sector and government in tackling Nigeria’s energy challenges, brought together senior representatives from the company’s upstream division and officials from the Ministry, in a session both partners described as timely and productive, given ongoing efforts to resolve constraints within the power sector.

Speaking at the meeting, Managing Director, OER, Dr Ainojie ‘Alex’ Irune, outlined the scale of the company’s gas assets, noting that its operations currently supports power generation infrastructure and directly contributes to the national grid through its Independent Power Plant, Okpai, which provides 50 million Nigerians with electricity and is responsible for approximately 15% of the nation’s power supply.

He highlighted the strong operational track record of this black start facility, citing decades of reliable output, and stressed that the company’s broader portfolio is increasingly weighted toward gas, a shift he described as central to the country’s economic future.

“Domestic capacity is not only an imperative now, but it is also the only way we get out of an economic crisis,” Irune said, adding that building a productive economy and supporting industrialisation would require sustained investment in basic infrastructure and power.

The company also detailed work being done through its clean energy division, Oando Clean Energy (OCEL) established five years ago, to explore how gas, solar, wind, and hydro resources can be blended to expand access to reliable and affordable power across the continent.

Irune pointed out innovative efforts already underway, including a pilot project repurposing abandoned oil wells across the Oando Joint Venture to generate geothermal-style power, as an example of the kind of creative, homegrown solutions the sector will need going forward.

The Minister described the discussions as a valuable opportunity to align government’s policy with private sector capacity, and noted that the Ministry remains focused on strengthening gas-to-power delivery as one of the cornerstones of the nation’s industrialisation agenda.

“We can talk about carbon credits, but in reality, it’s about the resources you have. You have to use them. That’s your advantage. Get it done in the cheapest, most efficient way possible. For me, it’s hydro, gas, and solar.

“I look forward to that collaboration, and I believe the power sector will get to a point where we start to see real progress. We need to look at how we use skills transfer and exchange to ensure our public sector side is also equipped to deliver on projects. I believe we will get there,” the Minister said.