Lokpobiri Pushes for Regional Energy Integration to Cut $120bn Import Bill

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has called for deeper regional integration to address the $120 billion annual energy import bill burdening African countries.

Lokpobiri made the call at the Africa Oil Week (AOW) 2025 Ministerial and CEO Leadership Forum in Accra, Ghana, stressing that regional integration remains the most effective strategy to end Africa’s energy poverty.

In a statement issued in Abuja by his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, the minister noted that shared infrastructure, harmonised standards, and technical expertise would enable the continent to secure its energy future.

He highlighted Africa’s heavy reliance on imports, revealing that the continent spends over $120 billion annually on hydrocarbon imports.

“This is capital flight. These funds should remain within Africa to fuel our own development priorities,” the minister said.

Lokpobiri stressed that the real challenge is not access to capital but the absence of aligned regulatory frameworks and fiscal regimes. “Investors make long-term decisions based on stability and predictability. Africa must harmonise its policies to attract and retain investment,” he stated.

As part of Nigeria’s leadership efforts, the minister announced the creation of a West African Reference Market (WARM), an initiative designed to leverage Nigeria’s expanding refining capacity to supply petroleum products across West Africa and beyond.

On the global energy transition, Lokpobiri clarified that the Paris Agreement does not mandate abandoning fossil fuels but calls for reducing emissions. “Africa contributes only 3% of global CO₂. We cannot lead an energy transition when we don’t even have energy. Our priority must be to responsibly harness our abundant resources to power growth,” he added.