Africa delegate united on just, equitable energy transition
Sopuruchi Onwuka
African delegates to this year’s conference of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will demand to be allowed to utilize petroleum resources to address energy poverty in the continent.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in charge of oil, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, declared at the just concluded Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa, that there is a unified position that Africa would demand time to catch with the rest of the world on climate action.
He dismissed the tone of urgency in the global drive for transition from traditional fuels as geopolitics, arguing that trends in the energy market still show strong demand for petroleum.
In arguing that Africa still suffers acute energy poverty, Lokpobiri said that nearly a billion people in the continent have no access to sustainable supply.
He made it clear that Africa remains the victim of both resource exploitation and climate change. He added that it would be a shame if the continent also falls victim of unjust energy transition.
On possible transition of demand from petroleum at the international energy markets, Lokpobiri said a parallel arrangement was being worked out among African countries for intracontinental energy trade.
He said African countries would drive development with petroleum under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).
He stated that the continent is united at all levels of coordination to continue utilization of petroleum energy to get citizens out of poverty.
Lokpobiri noted that all heads of government, ministers, African Energy Commission (AEC), African Petroleum Producers Organization ( APPO) and all multilateral organizations in the continent are in agreement to delay energy transition until the continent achieves energy security.
Lokpobiri spoke at the elephant stage of the just concluded Africa Energy Week (AEW) where the Congolese Oil minister and the president of the African Energy Chamber all supported just, fair and equitable energy transition.
In making his contribution, the Congolese minister of hydrocarbons, Jean Richard Itoua, declared that Africa has it’s own position on climate action and energy transition.
He stated that energy transportation has to be just, fair and equitable, adding that African countries, OPEC and other developing countries support the position that poor nations must achieve energy security before embarking on transition.
“Millions of Africans must be lifted from poverty,” he said, adding that there is urgent need to promote investment for higher production.
In dismissing energy transition as imminent, he noted that new multinational players still come for petroleum exploration in Africa.
