Lors du 13e Forum sur le contenu nigérian pratique (PNC), le secrétaire général de l’Organisation africaine des producteurs de pétrole (APPO), M. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, a révélé une avancée majeure pour le secteur énergétique africain. La Banque Africaine de l’Énergie (AEB), dotée d’un capital initial de 5 milliards de dollars, devrait commencer ses opérations d’ici mars 2025, sauf imprévu.
Created in partnership with Afriexim Bank, AEB is a strategic response to the financial challenges facing the African energy industry, particularly in a global context marked by the energy transition.
According to Mr Ibrahim, the Bank has already secured $2.5 billion in contributions from APPO member countries, marking a first milestone towards its initial funding target. Nigeria, which won the right to host the institution's headquarters in July 2024, stood out from other candidates such as Ghana, Algeria, South Africa and the Republic of Benin.
« La Banque Africaine de l’Énergie est essentielle pour permettre au continent de financer et de contrôler sa propre industrie énergétique », a déclaré M. Ibrahim, soulignant que l’accès à un financement africain est désormais crucial, compte tenu des restrictions croissantes imposées par les investisseurs occidentaux sur les projets liés aux combustibles fossiles.
Since the 2015 Paris Agreement, the world has begun a shift towards renewable energy, pushing fossil fuels into the background. This shift, dubbed the "energy transition", has had a disproportionate impact on Africa, a continent where many economies depend on oil and gas resources.
M. Ibrahim a déploré que, bien que le Nord global ait profité des hydrocarbures pour son développement pendant plus de 150 ans, il impose désormais des politiques limitant l’accès au financement pour les projets fossiles en Afrique. « Allons-nous laisser nos ressources inexploitées parce que ceux dont nous dépendons ont décidé de s’en éloigner ? » a-t-il interrogé.
With more than 125 billion barrels of proven reserves and 600 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Africa has considerable energy potential. For Mr Ibrahim, the challenge is clear: to use these resources to transform the continent, reduce the energy poverty that affects nearly a billion people, and finance a clean and sustainable energy transition.
"Oil and gas have transformed Western societies in 150 years. We need to do the same to improve living conditions for our people", he insisted.
The creation of the African Energy Bank marks a decisive step for the continent. It aims to empower African countries, enabling them to control their energy industry and invest in the infrastructure needed to maximise the benefits of natural resources.
With AEB operations scheduled for early 2025, this initiative symbolises Africa's collective determination to meet the world's energy challenges while capitalising on its resources for equitable and sustainable development.