African ministers in charge of energy have agreed to continue supporting fossil fuel exploration and development projects while developing green energy migration too.
The resolution followed President Yoweri Museveni’s commitment to energy migration though he vowed that this will not interfere with the country’s oil and gas industry developments.
Addressing the Africa Energy Week conference in Cape Town on Tuesday through a video message, Museveni showed satisfaction that African countries were united on energy amidst opposition, especially from the west. Museveni repeated that Africa should not pay for disasters that it had least contributed to.
“Africa has been the most responsible continent in terms of protecting the environment as far as minimizing carbon emissions is concerned. The continent should be applauded for this,” he said, adding that energy was necessary for any country’s development.
Africa Energy Week is organized by Africa Energy Chamber and brings together African energy leaders, global investors and executives from across the public and private sectors for dialogue on the future of the African energy industry.
President Museveni said Africa needed immediate solutions to her main challenge, access to reliable, sustainable and modern energy, and this was also necessary for the transition to low-carbon-emitting energy.
Museveni repeated criticism of European Union legislators opposed to the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline from Uganda through Tanzania to the coast, terming them “arrogant actors,” adding that the oil industry in Uganda would produce the lowest possible carbon emissions. He also explained Uganda’s energy mix that already includes renewable energy sources, like hydropower, solar power and biomass.
Mozambique President Philippe Nyusi concurred with Museveni that fossil fuels were important for Africa’s development, though the fight against climate change meant reducing carbon emissions.
The minister for energy and hydrocarbons in the Congo Republic, Bruno Itoua said it was time to have an action plan for Africa.
Itoua, the president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) president said, “And for an energy action plan, this is the time to have an African voice. Only one voice. A unique voice.”
Gabriel Obiang, the Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons in Equatorial Guinea Energy, said Africa should stand strong on her issues and not be intimidated.
“We are sitting there and people are telling us to send the resources to Europe? I support the Uganda-Tanzania pipeline because these pipelines will supply the entire region. In Africa, you see more trucks than cars, but in Europe, you do not see that, ” he said.
“We have to stop being victims. We need to stop doing the talk and we need to bring solutions. The Uganda pipeline will change the lives of so many people,” Obiang said.
The president of the Africa Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk also called for a single African voice especially ahead of the next world climate meet in Egypt.
“As we prepare for COP27, we need to protect our industry, we need to go there with one voice that oil and gas are crucial to addressing the continent’s critical challenges,” said Ayuk. “Wealthy nations need to decarbonize and African nations need to industrialize. We, as the African Energy Chamber and the voice of the energy sector and people, are not going to apologise for driving conversations around boosting upstream activities, ”
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