Africa and energy: the multi-energy strategy put forward at the IEA-IEF-Opec symposium

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) is reaffirming its commitment to a multi-energy approach for the continent, an essential plea in the face of the persistent energy crisis. With 600 million Africans living without electricity and 900 million without access to clean cooking solutions, it is imperative to harness all available resources to ensure sustainable electrification and industrialisation.

Yet some international institutions, such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), continue to advocate an energy transition that excludes oil and gas, perpetuating a myth that is dangerous for African development. While Western countries may envisage a rapid transition to renewable energies, this approach is neither viable nor suited to African reality. It is against this backdrop that the AEC is calling for an end to the anti-fossil fuel rhetoric on the continent.

This message was reinforced at the 15th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Tommy Joyce, Acting Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the US Department of Energy, highlighted the crucial role of oil and gas in tackling energy poverty in Africa. NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the ACS, stressed the need for an approach focused on the continent's specific needs. Other participants included Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Minister of Energy, Haitham Al-Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, and Keisuke Sadamori, Director of Energy Markets and Security at the IEA.

The example of South Africa is a perfect illustration of what is at stake. As the continent's largest economy, it relies on coal for 72% of its electricity production. The operational difficulties encountered by its power stations have led to power cuts affecting the entire economy. Natural gas, which is abundant in Africa, could offer a clean and affordable alternative for stabilising the electricity network and promoting economic growth.

With more than 620 trillion cubic feet of proven gas resources and still underexplored potential, Africa has a strategic lever for development. Projects to convert gas into electricity could alleviate the energy crisis and meet the growing needs of neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe. However, the IEA continues to recommend that new gas projects be halted, on the pretext that existing fields are sufficient. A statement that does not stand up to the reality of the continent.

Mozambique, a regional leader in renewable energy thanks to its hydroelectric projects, also illustrates this contradiction. Only 40% of its inhabitants have access to electricity. With more than 100 trillion cubic feet of gas recently discovered, the country could boost its electrification and fuel its development with LNG. A diversified energy strategy, combining renewable energies and fossil fuels, is therefore the most appropriate solution.

Ultimately, African countries are best placed to define their own energy trajectory. Oil and gas may be controversial in the West, but they offer African populations a cleaner alternative to biomass and paraffin, which are still widely used for cooking.

NJ Ayuk forcefully reminds us that global institutions must stop imposing a vision that is disconnected from African reality: "Europe, the United States and China have used coal, oil and gas to accelerate their economic development and improve the standard of living of their populations. Why can't Africa do the same?

The continent must be able to choose its own path towards an energy transition that is realistic, pragmatic and tailored to its needs, without having solutions imposed on it that compromise its economic future.