The African Energy Chamber (AEC), has cautioned negotiators for the continent’s decarbonisation against succumbing to western pressure on phasing out fossil fuel.
Executive Chairman, AEC NJ Ayuk, who gave the warning, said: “Don’t let empty promises about technology and money cloud your judgement.”
He told the negotiators that “This is not the time for Africa to fall into the trap of conforming to biased agendas. Don’t sell out – oil and gas will remain in Africa.”
He added: “African negotiators need to stop lying and misinforming. African producers have not agreed to, neither are they open to phasing out fossil fuels. Negotiators need to be careful and remember who they are fighting for.”
He argued that as much as Africa is willing to align with global efforts in ending methane emissions, it will, however, utilize its oil and gas resources to achieve national development agendas.
The Chamber therefore refutes COP28 claim that Africa is “phasing out” fossil fuels.
It noted that with over 600 million Africans still without access to electricity, and over 900 million lacking access to clean cooking solution, the continent’s COP 28 negotiators are caving into pressure from the west.
As a result, the Chamber said Africa is open to a phase-out approach regarding fossil fuels, he said.
African producers both established and emerging are not willing to forfeit these natural resources for a global agenda, and the negotiators should not sell out on the hopes and aspirations of Africa.
African producers have not and will not agree to phasing out fossil fuels. Unlike the rest of the developed world, the continent has not yet had the chance to transform its economies through oil and gas.
African negotiators
The African Group of Negotiators, established at the first Conference of Parties (COP 1) in Berlin, Germany, was created as an alliance of African member states to represent the interests of the region in international climate change negotiations.
As a technical body that engages in discussions during COP, the group has an obligation to reflect the needs and objectives of the continent.
“However, what this COP is showing us, is that this group is not averse to pressures from the west, rather the group is promoting that Africa is willing and open to phasing out fossil fuels.”
Chaired by Ephraim Mwepya Shitima from the Republic of Zambia, the Group, while opposing a phase-out, has claimed that the continent would be prepared for a phase-down approach.
This would entail the utilisation of oil and gas in line with national development agendas, and thereafter a gradual phase-out.
Nigeria’s Environment Minister, Isiaq Adekunle Salako, noted that the winding down of fossil fuel is inevitable, and that Nigeria is prepared to back a just and orderly approach.
Oil and gas have become Africa’s economic backbone with countries like Angola, Libya and Nigeria as some of the biggest producers, a development that makes the continent seek “a just transition” so as not to remove the lifeline of these economies, thereby leaving the people in the dark.
“African producers have not and will not agree to phasing out fossil fuels. Unlike the rest of the developed world, the continent has not yet had the chance to transform its economies through oil and gas. In order to develop, grow and address concerns such as energy poverty and industrialization, oil and gas will need to remain central for years to come,” Ayuk concluded.
