Page 4 - AfrOil Week 49 2022

AfrOil COMMENTARY AfrOil

Seek energy solutions at the

US-Africa Leaders Summit

The African Energy Chamber calls on the US and African presidents to address energy

poverty and a just transition during talks in Washington on December 13-15, writes NJ Ayuk

We are confident that, like previous meet- to be met.)
ings between American and African leaders, the To the extent possible, let’s avoid building
WHAT: events of the highly anticipated US-Africa Lead- such bridges to nowhere in this summit.
The upcoming sum- ers’ Summit, taking place December 13-15 in What to do about Africa’s energy resources
mit is sure to include Washington, DC, will show the US’ earnest and As you’d imagine given the authorship of this
discussions of proposed enduring commitment to Africa in the broad open letter, our true aim herein is to speak on
solutions for African sense. The African continent, some organisers the issue of Africa’s energy resources and the
energy poverty. have said, will shape the future of the world. policies that will prevail in the continent’s use of
We truly believe that the leaders who will those resources.
WHY: assemble in Washington have the best inten- We are aware that inevitably, the topic of
These discussions are tions in mind. They will be determined to effect African energy will arise, interwoven as it is with
taking place against positive change on everything from African issues ranging from the effect of climate change
the backdrop of climate governance and human rights to food security to the potential for industrialisation, urbanisa-
activism that seeks to and education. The heads of state and business tion and economic growth.
forestall development of
African oil and gas. and government leaders who will meet during There’s no question that African energy is a
the summit’s US-African Business Forum will hot-button topic, pitting climate activists who
WHAT NEXT: try in good faith to advance mutually beneficial want the continent to keep its considerable
Attendees at the summit two-way trade and investment partnerships. hydrocarbon assets (including newly found
should focus on concrete As history has demonstrated, however, natural gas reserves) in the ground against oth-
solutions rather than promises made at such lofty meetings, no mat- ers who recognize that fossil fuels cannot be dis-
empty talk. ter how heartfelt, are frequently not kept. His- carded in Africa in the short run if the continent
tory tells us that time and time again, the high hopes realistically to lift people out of energy —
ideals, good words, handshake commitments and real — poverty.
(and even contractual obligations) which are Under the banner of “climate justice,” many
reached at these meetings have, for any range in the developed world have cut off public
of intervening reasons, been ignored, set aside, financing for new African fossil fuel projects
overlooked, or found to be too ambitious to — although that hasn’t stopped them from
complete. (Consider, for example, the West bankrolling or even subsidising their own
committing to giving $100bn a year by 2020 to hydrocarbon activities or seeking feverishly to
help emerging economies reduce emissions and secure increased hydrocarbon commodities for
prepare for climate change. When the original a European Union threatened by an unprovoked
target was missed, it was moved — and has yet and unjust war.

P4 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 49 08•December•2022