ABUJA – The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Friday advocated a mixed basket energy policy to address the energy challenges in Africa. Alison Madueke made the call in Abuja at the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF). She said there was need for African leaders to formulate short, medium and long term policies that would enhance the development and growth of energy sector in the continent. The minister said African leaders needed to have a look at the abundant renewable energy resources in the continent to address energy deficit. “There is need to address the energy deficit, especially through formulation of a robust gas policy,” she said. According to her, African leaders must resolve to provide adequate and sustainable infrastructure in the energy sector. “We must take a look at fundamental issues, especially the infrastructure in the continent; we need the right infrastructure particularly for gas. “Individual states should look at what they can do to ensure infrastructure development.” She hinted that Nigeria was working towards ending gas flaring in the next few years. According to her, by 2020 we will be reaching the acceptable margin in the gas flaring reduction target in Nigeria. “The way to get there is the way we are going by putting in place the necessary facilities and infrastructure for recovery and supply. “It is a holistic approach not only to address the environmental damage, but also to ensure that our people begin to feel the positive impact of the abundant natural resources in the country. “And if we do that, we will begin to create thousands of jobs and the oil and gas sector will begin to critically touch the lives of all Nigeria.” According to the minister, government has started working on Ajaokuta-Kaduna- Kano gas pipelines which will soon be ready. She harped on the need to accelerate the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in the National Assembly, adding that the delay in the passage of the bill was a major setback from a legal point of view because we could not move forward in the way we ought to. “Up till now, we don’t have most of the legislative backing to put in place some of the measures that will enhance the growth of the sector, to make it more accountable and less corrupt. “Unless you have the backing of the law to actually create entities that are competitive-driven, it will be difficult to de-robe the sector of some of the impediments to growth. “The PIB is to make the oil and gas sector more transparent and more accountability and more secured for investment,” she said. (NAN)