African countries will use the COP27 climate talks in Egypt next month to advocate for a common energy position that sees fossil fuels as necessary to expanding economies and electricity access, the continent's top energy official said on Tuesday.
The African position, criticised by environmental groups, could overshadow global climate talks in Sharm El-Sheikh seeking to build on the previous Glasgow summit and make good on financing targets by rich nations to poorer countries that have fallen far short of the promised $100 billion a year by 2020.
"We recognize that some countries may have to use fossil fuels for now, but it’s not one solution fits all," said Amani Abou-Zeid, the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.
"It is not time to exclude, but it is the time to tailor solutions for a context," she told Reuters on the sidelines of an oil and gas conference.
An AU technical study attended by 45 African countries on 16 June seen by Reuters outlined that oil and coal will play a "crucial role" in expanding modern energy access over the short to medium term.
In tandem with renewable sources, Africa also sees key roles for natural gas and nuclear energy.
"Our ambition is to have fast-growing economies, competitive and industrialised," Abou-Zeid said.
As do these folks:
"Africa has woken up and we are going to exploit our natural resources," said Uganda Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu.
"There is no way you can develop any economy, any society without energy," said Omar Farouk Ibrahim, secretary general of the African Petroleum Producers' Organisation.
"We are talking about coal, we are talking oil and we are talking about gas. At this time we are not discriminating," he told Reuters.
N. J. Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber, is forthright in his view: “Africans don’t hate Oil and Gas companies. We love Oil and today we love gas even more because we know gas will give us a chance to industrialize. No country has ever been developed by fancy wind and green hydrogen. Africans see Oil and Gas as a path to success and a solution to their problems. The demonization of oil and gas companies will not work.”
That's visionary leadership right there.
But here in post-America, we're saddled with a president who relishes browbeating fossil fuel producers:
President Biden on Monday urged major oil companies to stop "war profiteering" and use record profits to boost domestic production as the White House looks to curb rising fuel prices ahead of the midterm election.
Biden accused oil and gas companies of profiting off "a windfall of war" in Ukraine, and rewarding their shareholders instead of helping millions of Americans who continue to face higher prices at the gas pump. The president called on energy producers to expand output, invest in new refining capacity and lower prices for U.S. consumers.
"If they don't, they're going to pay a higher tax on their excess profits and face other restrictions," he said in remarks from the Roosevelt Room at the White House, flanked by Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen and Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm.
"It's time for these companies to stop war profiteering, meet their responsibilities in this country, give the American people a break and still do very well."
Biden said his administration would work with Congress to explore potential penalties, but any new taxes are unlikely to muster enough support on Capitol Hill, where Democrats would need at least 10 Republicans to overcome a filibuster in the Senate.
Let me clue you in on some basic facts, Joe. "Excessive" is a subjective term. These are private organizations, and as such, can structure their operations however they see fit. They have no responsibilities other than to show their owners a return on investment. How much profit Exxon Mobil, Shell and Chevron make is none of your business.
Would that we could have some leaders like Abou-Zaid, Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Farouk Ibrahim and Ayuk.
Europe could use some, too.
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