Nigeria’s Untapped Geothermal Potential and the Role of Oilfield Expertise
Nigeria possesses a highly skilled oilfield workforce, with a proven track record in artificial lift systems. However, despite these strengths, the country faces a pressing power challenge that remains unaddressed. One promising solution lies in geothermal energy, a renewable resource known for its stability and reliability. Yet, this potential remains largely untapped, presenting a unique opportunity for Nigeria to leverage its existing expertise.
Geothermal energy harnesses the Earth’s natural heat to generate electricity, offering a consistent power supply regardless of weather conditions. Countries such as Kenya, Indonesia, and the Philippines have successfully integrated geothermal energy into their grids, demonstrating its viability as a dependable energy source. Globally, the United States leads with 3,900 MW of installed capacity, followed by Indonesia at 2,418 MW and Kenya at 985 MW. These figures highlight the significant strides being made in geothermal development worldwide.
Despite having similar or greater geothermal resource potential in certain regions, Nigeria currently has zero installed geothermal capacity. This gap underscores both the urgency and the opportunity for Nigeria to act. The country is sitting on promising geothermal gradients and has drilled thousands of wells, yet it has not taken the first step toward developing this resource.
Nigeria holds a distinct advantage over many other countries: an experienced petroleum engineering community, well-servicing teams, and deep expertise in artificial lift systems. These are precisely the skills needed to bring geothermal energy to life. In the oil and gas industry, artificial lift systems are used to bring fluids from deep reservoirs to the surface. Technologies such as Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs), Progressive Cavity Pumps, Gas Lift Systems, and Sucker Rod Pumps are routinely deployed in high-pressure, high-temperature environments. These same systems can be adapted for geothermal production, where the challenge is to move hot fluids from underground to the surface efficiently.
ESPs, for instance, are already used in geothermal operations globally, particularly in wells that do not flow naturally. Nigeria’s experience in handling issues like scale, sand, temperature fluctuations, and variable production rates makes its engineers uniquely qualified to troubleshoot and optimize geothermal flow systems. They understand failure modes, mitigation strategies, and the requirements for keeping equipment operational in remote and demanding conditions.
Beyond the technology, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has developed a comprehensive service ecosystem. Skilled technicians, data analysts, maintenance teams, and logistics systems are all available and can be repurposed for geothermal development. Instead of starting from scratch, Nigeria should build on decades of operational knowledge to accelerate progress.
What is needed now is action. A small-scale geothermal pilot project, perhaps involving collaboration between government, academia, and industry, would help test the viability of geothermal energy in Nigeria. Globally, binary-cycle geothermal systems in the 1–3 MW range have been developed to serve commercial or industrial facilities and support rural electrification efforts. While these systems may not power entire towns independently, they offer scalable, modular solutions ideal for decentralized applications in Nigeria.
The author, an artificial lift systems expert with over a decade of oilfield engineering experience, has completed formal training in GeoExchange system design for geothermal energy. She believes Nigeria is not lacking in capacity but rather in the connection between its oilfield expertise and geothermal opportunities. It is time for Nigeria to change that.
By applying artificial lift knowledge to geothermal energy, Nigeria can create jobs, improve energy security, and lead Africa’s clean energy transition. Using the skills it already has and the heat it has always had, Nigeria can unlock a new era of sustainable energy.