By Robert Bradley Jr. – November 9, 2022
Ed. Note: A recent manifesto from NJ AyukThe Executive Chair, Africa Chamber of Energy, should be studied by social justice advocates worldwide, not just the energy and environmental communities.
“…Why in Africa should we abandon fossil fuels – fuels that represent the solution to some of our most pressing needs – when so many others question the wisdom of doing so. do like that? We should not. And we shouldn’t be forced to do that.”
“Does the development of fossil fuels in Africa signal the end of all the good intentions and zero ambitions of the world? Or is this an example of ‘green colonialism’? “
Africans need and deserve affordable, abundant, reliable energy sources that are not parasitic, intermittent, dilute, discontinuous sources of energy. First-class energy for first-class people was a rallying cry here at MasterResources. Paul Driessenin particular, the author of Eco-imperialism: Green Power, Black Death.
It’s good to see the ethical case for fossil fuels in action. Excerpts from the recent statement by NJ Ayuk of the African Chamber of Energy to the United Nations COP27 (currently ongoing) as follows:
I will attend COP27 because I believe that if Africa is not at the table it will be on the menu…. The way we see it, the green agenda of the world’s rich nations ignores Africa – or at least, it eliminates our own needs, priorities and challenges.
The developed nations’ green agenda continues to ignore the huge role Africa’s oil and gas industry plays in generating revenue for African countries. Oil revenues account for at least 20% of GDP in Libya, Algeria, Gabon, Chad, Angola and the Republic of the Congo.
In Nigeria, Africa’s main oil producer, oil accounts for a more modest share of real GDP – around 6% – however, oil and gas account for 95% of foreign exchange earnings and 80% of government revenue. government.
The green agenda of the rich nations ignores those of us who point out that natural gas has the potential to bring life-changing prosperity to the continent in the form of jobs, business opportunities, and more. business, improve capacity and make money….
The green agenda of rich nations does not consider how much natural gas Africa needs to power the growing number of Africans living without it….
About 600 million Africans lacked electricity before the pandemic; and it looks like this number is growing. According to the International Energy Agency, in 2020, some of the benefits of access have been reversed, with about 30 million people who previously had access to electricity no longer able to afford it.
Considering that universal access to affordable and reliable electricity is one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals – that is, a fundamental human right – a huge and growing number of The rise of Africans without electricity is morally wrong and that cannot be ignored.
Unfortunately, the climate panic and fear shift is alive and well, and for some reason, Africa is enemy number one. A continent that emits a negligible amount of carbon dioxide, at most 3% of the world’s total emissions, is seen by developed nations as a threat to the planet.
In particular, the West is vilifying Africa’s energy sector because it is based on fossil fuels, even though the share of renewable energy is increasing. There is no doubt that much of this anti-oil sentiment in Africa is due to fear of climate change, which is intertwined with absolute horror that the fossil fuel boom in Africa has can wreak havoc on the world in general….
Prominent American climate activist Bill McKibben says the world cannot fight climate change if Total Energies and Uganda go ahead with the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. Yes, according to McKibben, one action would derail the entire carbon reduction scheme and offset whatever any other country in the world is doing to achieve net zero. Seems absurd, doesn’t it?
What’s even more confusing — or perhaps odd — is that McKibben was aiming for a pipeline that would only transport 210,000 barrels of oil per day. This is roughly equivalent to 1.8% of total US production, but he claims that it must be stopped, or else everything will fall apart. What good is any climate effort anywhere if it can be undone by a relatively small pipeline that could actually be a lifeline in one of the world’s poorest countries?
Energy use on the continent is still very low. In fact, so low that researchers write Foreign Policy The magazine estimates that if the one billion people living in sub-Saharan Africa tripled their electricity usage using natural gas, the additional emissions would be as little as 0.62% of global carbon dioxide….
Energy use on the continent is so low that the average African consumes less electricity each year than the refrigerator of an entire American family….
We must ask ourselves: Does the development of fossil fuels in Africa signal the end of all the world’s good intentions and bogus ambitions? Or is this an example of ‘green colonialism’?
I found it interesting that a public poll by the Financial Times, on the day it announced that I was going to have an Oxford-style debate on the matter, suggested that people were completely unconvinced that European Africa should give up oil and gas – 70% of 619 respondents said that Africa should make full use of its fossil fuels….
I am delighted to see African energy stakeholders speak with one voice on African energy sector goals thanks to Africa Energy Week. Africa Oil Week did everything to divide our voices and we stood….
It’s compulsory [at COP27 in Egypt] that African leaders represent a unified and strategic voice for Africa’s energy transition. We must clarify the unique needs and circumstances of Africa and explain the important role of oil and gas….
But, I would love to see Western governments, businesses, financial institutions and institutions backing our efforts… [by not] demonization of the oil and gas industry. We see it constantly, in the media, in policy and investment decisions, as well as calling for Africa to give up our fossil fuels in the ground.
We see that with lawsuits that stop funding Mozambique LNG or lawsuits that prevent Shell from even doing a seismic survey. Such actions, even as Western leaders push OPEC to produce oil, are unfair and they are not helpful. Even as Western countries are pushing to increase production and use of coal has escalated.
I also respectfully urge financial institutions to continue funding oil and gas projects in Africa and stop their efforts to block projects such as the East African crude oil pipeline or the Mozambique LNG projects.
More than 600 million Africans without electricity are suffering. 890 million Africans without clean cooking facilities are suffering.
I argue that if we want to protect Africans from harm and misery, we must embrace our natural gas resources…. [Natural gas] part of modern development, used for clean cooking, heat treatment, transportation, and as a feedstock for fertilizers….
Using Africa’s natural gas to fill the fertilizer supply gap would go a long way in mitigating those problems and getting food on the table around the world. If Africa was allowed to develop its resources, there would be plenty of natural gas to go everywhere….
Think of Europe, which is scrambling to line up enough oil, gas and coal for the winter—and looking to Africa for supplies….
So my question is, why in Africa should we give up on fossil fuels – fuels that represent solutions to some of our most pressing needs – when so many others question the wisdom of doing the same? We should not. And we should not be forced.
Final Note
The plea above is clear about Africa and natural gas, in particular. However, the author argues that the above is politically correct (not cited). Africa wants a combination of wind and sun, he said, and wants to play a role in Net Zero. Ayuk also suggests that man-made climate change is partly responsible for the extreme weather in his area (please check the time series).
Yes, the African Energy Chamber is playing defense at COP27. But the situation is changing. Enemies of African energy are not interested in compromise but, as Ayuk notes, “Green Colonialism”. The sooner NJ Ayuk and Chamber realize this, the faster they can help end their futile crusade against mineral energy.
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