The African oil and especially gas sector received a strong defense from the president of the African Energy Chamber NJ Come on on Tuesday. He delivered the opening speech at Africa Energy Week 2022, in Cape Town.
He emphasized that energy drove civilization, but that the energy industry was now under the most criticism, the most attack. But those who work in the energy sector “should be proud”. He cited how energy workers and companies had “stepped up” during the Covid-19 pandemic and ensured that the energy the world needed was provided, including the fuels needed to transport vaccines.
In Africa, he asserted, oil and gas were not yet finished. “It’s time to go back and build. We don’t have to apologize for using our natural resources,” he said. “Energy poverty and climate change are two sides of the same coin.” They needed to be dealt with together .
He also referred to African coal mining and coal miners. “They are normal people. We will not leave them behind.”
African governments had to create enabling environments, to allow investment to flow into oil and gas projects across the continent.
“We’ve seen licensing rounds across the continent. … Please close these deals,” he urged. We won’t apologize for “drill, baby, drill.” … We have to explore more, we have to produce more. … [E]especially the gas opportunities.”
Faced with energy supply crises, developed countries had intensified the exploitation and use of oil and gas, and even, in a couple of cases, coal. However, he said, they told African countries not to exploit their hydrocarbon resources.
“We have to go to the COP [climate conference] defending this industry”, he said. “This is not the time to back down.”
“Rich nations must decarbonize and African nations must industrialize. That’s the deal.”
Ayuk opposed the use of the courts to block oil and gas exploration in Africa. He expressed disbelief that the seismic studies could cause environmental damage.
“We are going to change Africa,” he concluded. “Let our voices be known. Let’s sign some agreements!”
