Investing in long-term gas projects in Africa might help the African economy, but controlling emissions should be in the first place.
Taping recently discovered oil and gas reservoirs in some African regions should be cautious. The countries on the continent should continue to develop and promote clean energy usage. This was the message of the US climate envoy John Kerry who took part in the African environment ministers’ conference in Dakar, Senegal.
Gas will stay on the scene for as long as things are currently due to the global energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. But, we should consider gas as a temporary replacement for coal and crude oil. We have to plan a future powered by clean energy sources. It was the position discussed on the sidelines of a Conference in Dakar.
Once the transition from oil to gas as an energy source is finished, and the plan is to be till 2030 – world nations must start the transition from gas to clean energy, or at least begin to capture the emissions from gas.
Developed countries to help African nations
The topic of financing further oil and gas projects in Africa will be discussed at a UN climate summit to be held in Egypt this November.
African countries plan to begin producing oil and gas hoping to bust electricity production and lessen energy poverty. International Energy Agency estimated that more than 43% of the population in African countries lack access to electricity.
Having in mind this data, governments of African countries say that insisting on lowering fossil fuels usage by the developed countries is an unjust request. The US climate envoy Kerry, on the margins of the Conference, said that it is an important task for developed countries to help African nations not to make the mistakes other countries made.
Development through green energy is possible
Now, African countries account for small CO2 emissions, but even that will be a problem after 2030. Especially if the current gas project continues to grow. According to the plans, a gas project should last for 40 years to be profitable.
“We do not have to rush to go backward, we need to be very careful about exactly how much we are going to deploy, how it is going to be paid for, over what period of time, and how do you capture the emissions,” Kerry said.
Enabling African countries to develop through green energy means a lesser problem for the future, concludes Kerry. He added that African nations also must help combat climate change.
Climate change is visible on this continent because a rise in temperatures is hitting crop yields and causing flooding and drought in this region. The consequences are both energy and food shortages.