Africa still needs fossil fuels: press
Leaders of several African nations said during a regional oil conference they were keen on exploiting hydrocarbons despite trends in the energy transition, the Reuters news service reported November 12.
West African nations in particular are experiencing an oil boom of sorts from offshore reserves. Speaking at the Africa Oil Week conference in Dubai, Ivorian minister of mines, petroleum and energy Thomas Camara said his country is on board with the move toward renewables.
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"But for our African nations, we have to ensure that our populations have access to energy,” he was quoted by Reuters as saying. “We will not turn our back to oil and energy companies so we can ensure the happiness - and even the existence - of our populations."
In South Africa, energy companies Sasol and the Central Energy Fund signed an agreement to develop regional gas supplies, saying that natural gas is a a critical part of South Africa's "just energy transition."
For Ghana, which began extraction fossil fuels only recently, revenue from the fossil fuel stream is essential for investments in social welfare programs and infrastructure.
“We believe strongly in oil and gas, and in particular gas,” deputy energy minister Andrew Egyapa said.
World leaders, meanwhile, are under pressure to take concrete action as the COP26 summit concludes. Various commitments on methane abatement and coal power have been issued and the weekend is expected to bring a final communique as the summit in Glasgow wraps up.