African countries are hardly alone in their refusal to accept global pressure to rush their transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydrogen power. In May 2021, the (International Energy Agency (IEA) ) issued a report, “Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector ,” calling for a halt to oil and gas exploration around the globe at the end of the year. That dramatic measure, the IEA argued, was the global energy sector’s only hope of achieving net-zero emissions (ensuring the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere equals the amount being removed) by 2050, a goal outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement. While some have put their support behind the IEA’s recommendation, a number of oil- and gas-producing nations firmly and unapologetically rejected it. The Deputy Director of International Affairs at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Akihisa Matsuda, told Reuters that his government had no plans to immediately stop oil, gas, and coal investments. "The report provides one suggestion as to how the world can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, but it is not necessarily in line with the Japanese government's policy," Matsuda said. "Japan needs to protect its energy security including a stable supply of electricity, so we will balance this with our goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.” #Norway Oil Minister Tina Bru pushed back against the IEA’s recommendations, too. “It would not if Norway discontinues production,” Bru said. “It would just move to other countries, and then we are no further. This is a complex global problem that requires many solutions.” I respect each of these stances and only wish that Africa’s oil- and gas-producing nations would be afforded the same consideration when African leaders express similar viewpoints regarding Africa’s shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. #energy #energyequality #oilandgas #africa #renewableenergy
I write business plans and renewable and sustainable plans for whole countries in Africa, about 8 so far in depth. Some of the smaller countries can be net zero in 4 years or less, and the bigger ones, that need more energy by 2036, while also reducing rates for consumers, which increases usage. We can do it with non recourse loans in 10 Billion increments, per country. There is a narrow path and a narrow way to prosperity for each country has its own unique natural and human and biomass capital, which - IF PROPERLY MANAGED, and made sustainable and renewable, could make Africa the breadbasket, the lungs and the heartbeat of the globe. The Sahara only needs proper management and fertilizer to become the largest food prediction area on earth and eat gigatons of co2 and buy us some time to figure out the rest. No other region on earth except the poles and permafrost holds more potential for change of good nature than sahara. and Africa in general. I have run the numbers, and some African countries pay more for their fuel every year, than they gross in GDP. if you had a profitable well well-maintained system, it would be less costly than it is now, and free up billions of dollars, that would otherwise go to oil and gas imports.
NJ Ayuk JD, MBA. Energizing rural communities is critical for agrifood systems and rural transformation; and fossil fuels are still VERY important in our energy mix, we need gas! Let's drill more and do both in the meantime. Appreciate AEC's role for advancing African led dialogue and decision making - AOW will not see us for dust! Drill, Africa, drill!
Seen from the Nordic, Africa is the next big thing when it comes to renewables, why take the detour around fossiles when solar has dropped over 90% the last decade in price, land wind more than 70% and batteries more than 90%. The ability to build up delocalized grids and reduce the need for the «highway» infrastructure can really represent a difference. The renewable is now growing so rapidly that the risk of stranded assets is grand. This, is something many oil producing nations will face, even though in neglect and denial yet… Africa holds in many ways the power of a lot of the supply chain of the renewable transition. I think I would care more for taking a cross country reflection and shoulder to shoulder in this so that not all vital resources goes to supply out-of Africa countries that not have gotten out of their slippers to secure supplies. I wish there would me even more news from African countries on the developments happening, it matters! But I have followed Aptech Africa for many years with great interest. It’s pretty impressive ☀️☀️☀️🚰💧💧🔋🔋
The biggest issue, I have and I am working on it, is how come something so beneficial and rewarding to Africans is difficult to sell to Africans by Africans. Why are the protagonist for Renewable Energy not Africans. The heavy lift is not climate funds, It is the benefits to Africans. We are , being told we are under mechanized by lack of electricity, we do not understand why or how we don't have access to renewable/ Climate funds. On the truth side. The African agriculturalist, mainly the whole sale ones, are privately owned. Industry to be financed by renewables is where we remained challenged. Governments and local banks do not fund renewables. Electric cars are not practical. We should raise awareness and sell the benefits on renewables to enable wealth enabled transition. The players have to be rotated. Fossil fuels should play and intergral part in funding renewables for profit. That is transition. We have to use income to make money . Not grants to take us away from our subsoil. The mining sector, fossil fuels should make money for the future in clean energy and atmosphere, Carbon reduction and all. There is scholarship on this, in countries with fossil fuels or not. Choose your poison,you will find your antidote.
Asad Ghori
3w
Thanks for sharing and agree. The energy industry has never been this politicized with so much misinformation. We can’t just expect nations to “halt oil and gas” — managing the electric grid requires a combination of energy sources as we learned the hard way during the Texas Freeze in 2021. Technology investments can help us better manage a more resilient grid while maintaining safer energy operations at the source, but there also needs to be some investment in education across the consumer population.
Nothing is catastrophic to Africa development Like those foreiners. They insnuate oil and gas development in Africa in a disguise of carbon emissions per capita. But today, Africa emit just Less than aquarter of Europe alone. But these shamelessly people have continued to oppress African development chance since the time of history. But this time round, they will oppress themselves
Ngu Morcho
3w
Mr. Ayuk, the question should be, "How can Africa leverage the Renewables Movement to unlock economic opportunity for the masses?" Most of Africa is run by leaders who lack the technical know how to appreciate how best to leverage the fossil based industry to benefit their local economy beyond the major Oil & Gas companies. Renewable does not mean "anti fossil", it means pro innovation in energy as an integrated ecosystem enabler for other sectors. Water, Agribusiness, education, healthcare, construction, logistics, ITC/Data Centers, etc. If fully appreciated, the "Renewables Movement could create Africa's long desired mass industrialization. We will NEVER go away from fossil at 100%, but imagine what the other sources and options could do to benefit our local economies? THIS, should be an idea all of us should embrace and support fully!
Interestingly enough - even California is having to keep open plants slated for closure because they can't make up the loss with 'green energy '. Politicians can sign agreements and make promises like this because they won't be in office when the deadline falls.
CEO at Waterfield Farms, Inc.
2wI find it interesting that so many people are concerned about the short term future of Africa and it’s economic development and the short term benefit fossil fuels could provide, but not mentioned is the long-term pain this will cause, not just a continent, but the globe. This is on the same parallel as “eating ones seed corn”. A short term gain for a long-term starvation. Climate change is not fair. It’s a reality of physics we have to deal with. The justification of continued use of fossil fuels is really an irresponsible trope to continue business as usual and profits for a few. In almost all context oil extractionwill will still leave Africa poor in the short term because the history of the benefit of fossil fuel extraction rarely goes to the country it’s extracted from. More often than not it’s a curse for the country in terms of political corruption and economic devastation It leaves in its wake. As laudable as it is to accelerate Africa’s economic growth the only sustainable solution is to leave all future oil everywhere in the ground & build out a sustainable 0 carbon energy infrastructure. It may mean a slower development in the short term, but it means there will be a future as opposed to devastation.