Page 10 - AfrOil Week 44 2021

AfrOil POLICY AfrOil

Sonangol has a long-standing practice of direct- private-sector contractors is likely to become
ing service contracts to its own subsidiaries, to “much more difficult because the volume of
other government-run entities or to its political activity has also dropped,” he commented.
allies, de Carvalho noted. He said the state- De Carvalho was speaking shortly after
owned company had “manipulated” many of its ANPG published a list of goods and services
agreements with IOCs “for the benefit of public that IOCs working in Angola will be required
companies such as Sonangol or companies of to secure from local contractors. Currently, 95%
people connected to power.” This practice “com- of the goods and services used by IOCs at their
pleted blocked the possibility for independent Angolan installations are imported, Ver Angola
private individuals to carry out such activities,” noted. ™
he remarked.
The former director acknowledged that the
Angolan government had introduced checks
on Sonangol by barring the company from serv-
ing as concessionaire for the country’s oil and
gas assets and transferring that function to the
newly created National Agency of Petroleum,
Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) in 2019. This move
was designed to prevent the NOC from inter-
vening in the selection of service contractors, he
explained.
He also asserted, though, that the transfer
of concessionary authority from Sonangol to
ANPG had not led to an increase in local con-
tent. Additionally, he said he did not expect
many changes, since IOCs have been signing
fewer agreements in Angola and the country’s oil
production has declined. Securing jobs for local De Carvalho says Sonangol “manipulated” service contracts (File Photo)

Ramaphosa: South Africa will need money

to meet its climate targets and go green

SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa conference in Glasgow.
has declared that the climate talks at COP26 In the column, he noted that the country’s
must ensure a just transition that leaves no one abundant natural resources can be harnessed to
behind, saying that South Africa would need build a new economy in such areas as renewable
financial help in meeting its ambitious pledges energy and green hydrogen.
to curb climate change. Ramaphosa quoted figures recently approved
Ramaphosa’s comment came as this year’s by his country’s government as its Nationally
UN climate talks got underway in Glasgow Determined Contribution, specifying a range
on October 31. Most world leaders who spoke of emissions by South Africa compatible with
on Monday, November 1, acknowledged the slowing down climate change. The top of this
urgency of the problem of climate change, range, 420 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent, is
warning that urgent action is needed. Many of compatible with restricting global warming to
the leaders’ speeches emphasised that the world less than 2°C. In comparison, the bottom of the
needed to do more and give better support to range (350 megatonnes) is consistent with the
vulnerable and poor nations to green their econ- Paris Accord goal of limiting warming to less
omies in order to meet their emission targets. than 1.5°C, he said.
The South African president wrote in a col- Given that South Africa’s total emissions are
umn published by the Financial Times that currently around 500 megatons of CO2 equiva-
South Africa had big plans for its journey to lent, this target will require a significant reduc-
net zero but needed assistance from the nations tion in fossil fuel use, Ramaphosa said.
responsible for climate change. Scientists say “Where we arrive in this range depends on
net zero must be achieved by 2050 to avoid a the support we get. South Africa’s ambitions
climate catastrophe, and most countries have cannot be achieved without the more developed
agreed to this. Ramaphosa’s government had set economies meeting promises they have made to
a target range for net-zero carbon emissions by provide financial assistance to developing econ-
2050, in line with the best pledges at the climate omies in their energy transition,” he said.

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 44 03•November•2021