Addressing the Africa Energy Week conference in Cape Town on Tuesday, via a pre-recorded video message, the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni he expressed his pleasure for African countries to work together on energy. African energy producers had to tap into African markets.
“Energy is a necessity for the development of any society,” he pointed out. Since Africa was the least developed continent, it needed more energy than any other continent. And, until now, Africa had been the most responsible continent in terms of carbon emissions. The continent should be applauded for this, he suggested.
The main energy challenge facing Africa was access to reliable, sustainable and modern energy. A just transition to low-carbon energy required that the continent’s development not be compromised. It was only fair that all of Africa’s energy sources played a role in the continent’s development.
He criticized European politicians who opposed the Uganda-Tanzania pipeline project (which would transport Ugandan oil to the Tanzanian coast). He characterized them as “arrogant actors” and claimed Uganda was happy for its oil and gas projects to produce the lowest possible carbon emissions. He also noted that even when it was no longer needed as a fuel, oil would still be required to make other products, such as textiles and plastics.
He also noted that Uganda was already using renewable energy sources such as hydropower, solar power and biomass. The country would increase its use of renewable energy.
President of Mozambique Felipe Nyusi he also addressed the conference on Tuesday via a pre-recorded video message. He highlighted that 600 million Africans, or around 48% of the continent’s population, still lacked access to modern energy.
He stated that fossil fuels could play a role in the continent’s development. Although the fight against climate change required that carbon emissions be reduced, African countries with hydrocarbon resources, such as Mozambique, had to urgently exploit them. Carbon neutrality was to be achieved (with international agreement) by 2050. But this could be done if the process was fair and, in Africa, phased in.
Natural gas now provides about 33% of Mozambique’s energy. The country was also a large producer of hydroelectric power and was developing major new hydroelectric power plants. Mozambique had a national goal of achieving universal access to modern energy by 2030. The country also exported energy to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi and was building a connection to Zambia.
“This is the time to move on from speeches and conferences and really have an action plan for Africa,” urged the president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of the Congo. Bruno Itoua, addressing the conference on Tuesday, in person. “And for an energy action plan. … This is the time to have an African voice. Just one voice. A unique voice.”
It did not make sense that Africa had such large oil and gas reserves, and exported oil and gas, but 600 million Africans had no electricity and 900 million Africans had no access to modern gas (for cooking), he stated. But Africa was moving forward, as evidenced by the many government officials and businessmen attending the conference.
Referring to OPEC’s recent decision to cut production, he defended it as a “scientific-technical” decision to stabilize the market. He noted that in his press conference at the time, he had said that Africa fully supported the OPEC decision.
