OGRepublic August Edition

INDUSTRY NEWS
Schneider Electric, others Reiterate the Need for
Deployment of Technologies to Ensure Energy Security
Schneider Electric has reiterated the need
for deployment of technologies to
ensure energy security and sustainable
development in Nigeria.
General Manager Sub-Saharan Africa for
Schneider Electric Process Automation, Mr.
Ajibola Akindele, stated this at the 2021 Society
of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Annual
International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE),
with the theme: “The Future of Energy – A Trilogy
of Determinants: Climate Change, Public Health,
and the Global Oil Market", which held in Lagos.
Speaking on a panel on “Energy Security and
Sustainable Development in Nigeria”, Akindele
noted that energy security is about availability,
accessibility and affordability, adding that it is
also about meeting today's challenges without
negating the requirement for tomorrow.
According to him, energy security is the life-blood
of a country’s economy; but he bemoaned the
general lack of energy efficiency in Nigeria –
getting energy to the right place at the right time.
This, he said is where technologies come in.
He averred that technology is an enabler and not
an end itself, noting that the use of technology
helps in good decision-making, transparency,
increased production, and cost reduction.
Akindele also noted that there are several
technologies available today, which can help
players in the oil and gas industry to make better
decisions, ensure transparency, increase energy
production and reduce cost.
He listed predictive analytics, digital twins, IoT,
3D printing, robotics, machine learning,
blockchain, big data and drones deployment as
some of the technologies that will continue to
matter in the future with
respect to operations in the oil and gas industry.
“All of those technologies are coming upstream
and we are going to see more and more of those
technologies. What do they do? Essentially, when
you look at Internet of Things (IoT), Machine
Learning, blockchain and Big Data, they help you
with better decision-making, transparency – so
that ultimately you can out-produce more energy
at a cheaper price. You are making it more
affordable, hence it becomes more accessible and
more available,” he said.
He also listed some of the challenges that may
affect the Oil and Gas companies from adopting
these technologies as costs, lack of infrastructure
backbone and exposure to cyber-attacks.
However, he stated that all of these challenges
can be successfully mitigated and overcome.
Mr. Ajibola Akindele
On the challenge of upfront costs, he suggested
that these technology services can be provided on
a subscription model thereby reducing upfront
costs.
He also stated that cyber-attacks while becoming
increasingly common, can be mitigated by
applying the appropriate technology solutions
and constantly educating employees on the
threat of cyber-attacks and ensuring vigilance
within the organisation.
Akindele concluded by stating that “the use of
technology has a big role to play in ensuring
energy security and sustainable development in
Nigeria”. He urged organisations to embrace the
use of digital technologies where possible for
operational efficiency improvements.
Sonangol Extends Farm-down Bid Rounds to September 2021
Sonangol hereby informs the general public that, due to companies increased interest in
Sonangol’s farm-down bid process, the access to the virtual Data Showrooms sessions was
extended to August 20th, 2021.
The national oil company also informs that, as a result, the deadline for proposals
submission was extended until September 20th, 2021.
For any additional question inherent to the process, the interested parties should
contact the Evaluation Committee created for this purpose by e-mail,
alienacaoblocospp@sonangol.co.ao
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