Providing Energy To Growing Population Critical — Nwokeoma

An energy expert with several years of experience, Chinedu Nwokeoma, has said that clean energy demand is paramount, alongside the push for renewables.

Nwokeoma, who had managed complex projects within the Nigerian Oil & Gas industry, also said the need to provide energy to a growing global population sustainably cannot be over-emphasised.

In an interview with select journalists, he said leveraging data for enhanced production efficiency was becoming increasingly critical.

Exploring the most significant trends influencing the energy sector today, Nwokeoma said, “Clean energy demand is paramount, alongside the push for renewables and the need to provide energy to a growing global population sustainably. Additionally, leveraging data for enhanced production efficiency is becoming increasingly critical.”

He said some of the primary challenges professionals were grappling with in the sector include Net-zero upstream operations, aging equipment, skill shortages, price volatility, strict environmental regulations, and negative industry perception. He noted that those were critical challenges.

According to him, addressing these challenges requires a mix of technological innovation, strategic planning, and investment in talent development and sustainable practices.

Taking journalists on a voyage of his current role and expertise within the energy sector, he said he currently serves as the Business Unit Manager at SPIE OGS, focusing on maintenance contract management in the Oil & Gas sector.

He said, ” My expertise lies in overseeing interdisciplinary projects and ensuring the optimal performance and safety of critical assets.”

On what attracted him to the industry and the energy sector maintenance, he said, “As a young project manager, I was captivated by the potential of the energy sector to enhance global energy provision sustainably. The high-stakes engineering challenges and operational intricacies of Oil & Gas fascinated me, propelling me to become deeply involved in this dynamic industry.”

Reflecting on his career, he said one of his proudest achievements has been to have successfully led multi-trade maintenance teams across diverse projects, ensuring operational excellence and safety in every endeavour.

Focusing on his approach, which has generally been considered unique, he said: “My approach is grounded in comprehensive management skills honed over years in the energy sector. I emphasize proactive strategies like predictive maintenance and innovative technologies to optimize asset performance and longevity.

“I’m leading initiatives like the de-carbonization of FPSO infrastructure, monitoring gas flares closely through KPIs, and implementing lean and remote maintenance strategies using predictive analytics.”

Speaking on the exciting future of the industry, and the biggest opportunities for growth, he said: “I’m particularly excited about advancements in clean energy generation, de-carbonization technologies for recovering flared gases, and the ongoing evolution of maintenance strategies that optimize equipment performance and reliability.

“In my current role, we’ve implemented comprehensive training programs and stringent KPIs for monitoring emissions, enhancing data-driven decision-making in daily maintenance operations, and significantly improving asset efficiency.”