Climate change? Energy development first! (a plea from Mozambique) – Are you interested in that?
By Robert Bradley Jr. – December 7, 2021
“Cutting funding to our Nation and our gas projects will plunge us into energy poverty in the decades to come. Yes, I understand that climate change is a matter of life and death, but the improvement of the lives…of the people of Mozambique is also improving…. We need energy and we need fast.” (Jocelyne Machevo, November 16, 2021)
Accessible, affordable, reliable, lasting Energy is a necessity, not a luxury as it was centuries ago. And nowhere is this more true than in the developing world. But will the poor get first or second class energy? For the political/intellectual class interested in climate alarmism/forced energy transition, wind and solar and battery power are both second-rate.
This mentality needs to be exposed, challenged and reversed.
Paul Driessen titled his 2003 book, Eco-imperialism: Black Death, Green Power. Margit Wade’s recent The Wall Street Journal Piece, “COP26 plan to keep Africa poor,” started:
As a Senegalese businessman, I can tell you what is holding Africa back: the lack of affordable energy. We live on a continent with an average annual income of less than $2,000, and most people rely on fossil fuels for survival. The climate targets demanded by wealthy nations at the recent COP26 summit are not only absurd but also a death sentence for Africans.
Into the Jocelyne Machevo, described at LinkedIn as
“Energy industry expert | Leadership Development | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Local Content | Multi-Award Winner | Talk about #energy, #youthleadership, #womenempowerment and #leadershipdevelopment. With 5,628 followers
She poses the key questions that haunt today’s international movement to phase out fossil fuels. While not questioning this goal (which in my view is an intellectual and strategic mistake), she raises the question ‘why us, why now?’
Here is Miss Machevo’s post:
When I first saw [the Stop Funding Gas in Mozambique protest] I don’t understand how someone could come up with such a powerful message that could negatively damage the lives of ~30 million people and the development of an entire nation. I have chosen to believe that these people are speaking from a place of ignorance and miscommunication. So I will just choose to inform you to read this message so you can understand what Mozambique is, where we stand and where we are going.
Mozambique is a Sub-Saharan Developing Country and like many other sub-Saharan countries, it is still struggling to provide access to basic rights. Despite the significant improvements that have been noted over the years, we still have a long way to go. Mozambique is also a country rich in resources, besides many things we have discovered a huge amount of gas that puts us in the top of the most promising regions in the world.
As one can certainly understand, the gas industry also serves as a catalyst for further development and industrialization, so we (Mozambicans) see in these discoveries as opportunity to promote our socio-economic development.
In Mozambique, less than 50% of the population has access to modern and reliable electricity. So we also see in these discoveries an opportunity to leverage our own resources, to use this gas, which is relatively cleaner, to improve access to energy for Mozambican households and serves as the basic load needed to drive industrialization. In a word, this is our plan as Mozambicans.
Regarding climate change, we have to understand that it is not responding to our annual emissions, it is responding to our cumulative emissions. The data have shown that Africa’s CO2 contribution is minimal while the developed world is busy maximizing the benefits from their resources and focusing on their own development, which is not the case. What is fair and understandable.
Now it is our turn to do the same, to exercise our right to justice.
We decided not to romanticize and entertain solutions that would not solve our core problems. Renewable energy at the moment, cannot solve our energy poverty problem, we don’t have the money yet, the technology, the infrastructure, the policies have developed, to mention very few.
The goal is not pure, the goal is carbon neutral, let’s focus on that. We are focusing on that! We’re not saying we’re not aiming for the goal, we’re saying we’re working towards the goal through a strategy that works for us and it doesn’t hurt you.
Cutting funding to our Nation and our gas projects will plunge us into energy poverty for decades to come. Yes, I understand that climate change is a matter of life and death, but so is improving the lives of our people. And improving the lives of the Mozambicans, that’s an aspect where I believe we are not willing to compromise. We need energy and we need it fast.
Having read or heard this “only one story about energy, climate change and development,” I couldn’t agree more.
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For other articles on the subject, see:
Africa Chamber of Energy: Fossil Fuels, Please (November 8, 2021)
Vietnam at the Energy Crossroads: Will Choose The Best Path To Advance? (June 30, 2021)
Nigeria bets on oil, gas and coal to secure its energy future (April 26, 2021)
Renewables vs. Africa’s Renaissance (July 1, 2019)
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