Global energy stakeholders have emphasized the importance of a fair and balanced energy transition that ensures energy access, affordability, and security while advancing global climate goals.
Ministers from Nigeria, Montenegro, and Zimbabwe shared their respective national energy transition strategies on Wednesday during a ministerial session at the ongoing 2025 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 41st edition of ADIPEC, hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), is themed “Energy, Intelligence, Impact.”
During the session titled “Global Shifts: Navigating an Era of Diverging Priorities,” Montenegro’s Minister of Energy and Mining, Admir Sahmanovoc, called for a “just transition” centered on fairness and inclusivity. He noted that Montenegro was implementing a phased approach to reduce reliance on fossil fuels while investing in renewables and supporting affected workers.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Energy and Power Development, July Moyo, highlighted his country’s focus on energy security and affordability, revealing ongoing reforms that encourage private investment in generation, transmission, and distribution.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, stressed that Africa’s transition must align with its developmental needs. He reiterated that “energy transition should be sequential and fair — there is no one-size-fits-all model for developing economies.”
Ekpo added that natural gas remains central to Nigeria’s transition strategy, powering industries and expanding clean energy access, backed by reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and new incentives for investors.
Other speakers, including the Secretary-General of the International Energy Forum (IEF), Jassim Alshirawi, and East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) Secretary-General, Osama Mobarez, underscored the need for collaboration, transparency, and innovation in advancing a sustainable energy future.
The session ended with a shared understanding that the global energy transition must be inclusive, balanced, and economically viable, with natural gas serving as a key enabler in bridging the energy gap between developed and developing nations.