Staff profile

Smith I Azubuike is Assistant Professor in Energy Law at Durham Law School, and a qualified Lawyer in Nigeria. He previously taught at Queen’s University Belfast. Smith’s teaching and research focus on energy law and sustainability, risk allocation in the energy sector and renewable energy law. Smith holds an LLB from Rivers State University in Nigeria, and an LLM and PhD from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy, University of Dundee. He practiced as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria since 2007, before going for postgraduate studies in 2011. In 2013, He worked as the Head of Litigations in the law firm of Samuel C. Dike & Co. in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Smith is the Book Reviews Editor of Edinburgh University Press’ Global Energy Law and Sustainability journal.

Research groups

The Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy

Law and Global Justice at Durham

 

• Energy Justice and Transition
• Energy Law and Sustainability
• Renewable Energy Law
• Risk Allocation in the Energy Sector

Book review

• Azubuike, S. I. (online). Renewable Energy: Can it Deliver?. Global Energy Law and Sustainability,

Chapter in book

• Akrofi, M. M., Okitasari, M., Ohunakin, O. S., & Azubuike, S. I. (2022). Solar Urban Planning in African Cities: Challenges and Prospects. In S. I. Azubuike, A. Asekomeh, & O. Gershon (Eds.), Decarbonisation Pathways for African Cities (15-36). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14006-8_2
• Azubuike, S. I., & Adeyemi, A. (2022). Innovative Strategies for Decarbonising the Healthcare Sector in Nigerian Cities. In S. Azubuike, A. Asekomeh, & O. Gershon (Eds.), Decarbonisation Pathways for African Cities (51-72). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14006-8_4
• Asekomeh, A., Gershon, O., & Azubuike, S. (2022). To Opt-in or to Cop Out: COP26 and the Policy Dynamics of Decarbonising African Cities. In S. I. Azubuike, A. Asekomeh, & O. Gershon (Eds.), Decarbonisation Pathways for African Cities (157-178). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14006-8_9
• Asekomeh, A., Azubuike, S. I., & Gershon, O. (2022). Post-Covid-19 and African Agenda for a Green Recovery: Lessons from the European Union and the United States of America. In E. Osabuohien, G. Odularu, D. Ufua, & R. Osabohien (Eds.), Covid-19 in the African Continent: Sustainable Development and Socioeconomic Shocks (309-322). Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-686-620221028
• Azubuike, S. I., Nakanwagi, S., & Dike, S. C. (2022). Utilizing Sustainability Assessment Framework to Obtain a Social License to Operate in Renewable Energy Projects: The Case of Murchison Hydropower Project in Uganda. In G. Wood, J. Górski, & G. Mete (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Social License to Operate and Energy Transitions (1-22). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74725-1_7-1
• Roben, V., & Azubuike, S. I. (2020). Climate Change and Responsibility: Arctic States’ Cooperation through the Arctic Council in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Efforts. In H. Lassi, H. Exner-Pirot, & J. Barnes (Eds.), Climate Change and the Arctic: Global Origins, Regional Responsibility (443-463). Northern Research Forum
• Nalule, V. R., & Azubuike, S. I. (2020). Challenges and Opportunities for Energy Transitions and Decarbonisation in Southern African Countries. In T. Oyewunmi, P. Crossley, F. Sourgens, & K. Talus (Eds.), Decarbonisation and the Energy Industry: Law, policy and regulation in low-carbon energy markets (377-400). Hart Publishing. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781509932931.ch-016
• Vinogradov, S., & Azubuike, S. I. (2018). Arctic Hydrocarbon Exploration & Production: Evaluating the Legal Regime for Offshore Accidental Pollution Liability. In H. Lassi, & H. Exner-Pirot (Eds.), Arctic Development: In theory and Practice (307-327). Northern Research Forum

Edited book

• Azubuike, S. I., Asekomeh, A., & Gershon, O. (Eds.). (2022). Decarbonisation Pathways for African Cities. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14006-8

Journal Article

• Azubuike, S. I., Emeseh, E., & Yibakuo Amakiri, D. (2024). Climate Change, Energy Transition, and the Global South: Learnings from the International Framework on the Ozone Layer. Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, 42(3), 255-277. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2024.2345012
• Paim, M.-A., Gershon, O., Adeyemi, A., Azubuike, S., Mu, X., & Roeben, V. (2023). Solar Power for Resilient Healthcare Systems in Nigeria: Regulatory, Financial and Organizational Options for Sustainable Business Models. The Journal of energy and development, 48(1-2), 175-194
• Azubuike, S. I., Nakanwagi, S., & Pinto, J. (2023). Mining Resource Corridor development in Nigeria: critical considerations and actions for a diversified and sustainable economic future. Mineral Economics, 36, 59–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13563-022-00307-5
• Asekomeh, A., Gershon, O., & Azubuike, S. I. (2021). Optimally Clocking the Low Carbon Energy Mile to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from Dundee's Electric Vehicle Strategy. Energies, 14(4), https://doi.org/10.3390/en14040842
• Azubuike, S. I., & Songi, O. (2020). A Rights-based Approach to Oil Spill Investigations: A Case Study of the Bodo Community Oil Spill in Nigeria. Global Energy Law and Sustainability, 1(1), Article 28-54. https://doi.org/10.3366/gels.2020.0005
• Azubuike, S. I., Songi, O., Irowarisima, M., & Chinda, J. K. (2018). Identifying policy and legal issues for shale gas development in Algeria: A SWOT analysis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2018.10.005

Monograph

• Azubuike, S. Risk Allocation and Distributive Justice in the Energy Industry: Law, Policy and Practice. Edinburgh University Press

Working Paper

• Azubuike, S. I. Rethinking Fiscal Stability in Mining Investment Contracts: Is there a way to achieve Fiscal Stability and douse Parties’ Concerns?
• Azubuike, S. I. (2012). IRAN’S Nuclear Programme: What is the Purpose for Enriching Uranium?
• Azubuike, S. I. (2012). Gas Market Liberalisatio in Europe: IS therea future for Oil-Linked Gas Pricing in Natural Gas Contracts?