NNPC chief Mele Kyari says energy security is important to national development.

Mr Kyari stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the 60th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.

Delivering a keynote address, he said  energy security was crucial for driving economic activities.

“There is no country that does not pay attention to energy security. It is actually national security in every country. It triggers a chain of events, from security issues to economic concerns. That is why countries are paying attention to finding their own source of energy locally, “ he said.

He explained that solid minerals were crucial to energy security due to their key role in energy generation, storage, and infrastructure.

Mr Kyari  said that the minerals served as the foundation of solar energy and electric vehicle battery technology, both of which were in high demand due to the increasing adoption of EVs.

He further stated that the global shift toward clean energy has necessitated innovation, which he described as key to transforming the solid minerals sector into a green energy hub, a potential Nigeria possesses.

Highlighting the role of lithium in EV batteries, Kyari noted that the rising demand for electric vehicles was driving the need for lithium-based batteries.

He emphasised that Nigeria had the minerals in commercial quantities and should leverage it for growth and development of the solid minerals sector.

Mr Kyari noted the importance of innovation in improving efficiency and ensuring cost-effective operations, which he described as the core of the mining and geosciences industry.

The NNPC boss stated that innovation had driven sustained growth in oil production in the country, adding that the government and oil companies also  had established strategic measures to maintain this progress.

(NAN)