Wh ile the consensus of the western elites may be that oil and gas is a dirty outdated, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) continues to see the sector as one of major potential for the continent.This is according to NJ Ayuk, chairman of the AEC, who says that fossil fuels will continue to play a major role in powering the earth for decades to come.“If a fully sustainable energy future truly awaits us, however far off it may be, oil and gas will undoubtedly continue to fuel our journey toward it, just as petroleum-based materials will remain central to its development. Hydrocarbons will continue to provide heat and generate electricity as we assemble turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles from components made of plastic,” he said. “The fact that legacy oil fields diminish in productivity over time doesn’t mean we should abruptly halt all production in the name of climate change and learn to manage with what little output renewables currently offer. Such an ill-advised decision would constitute a veritable death sentence for the developing world, if not most of society.”He said untapped discoveries, both onshore and off, practically encircled the African continent, and several new oil and gas economies were ready to come online, stepping up into their rightful place on the world stage.Ayuk’s sentiments are shared by leaders across the continent. Africa cannot be deprived of this long-awaited opportunity for economic growth. An adjustment to the oil and gas industry’s focus – from elsewhere in the world to Africa – will create jobs, business and monetisation opportunities, infrastructure improvements, and a diversification of national economies. Governments across the continent can and will collect massive increases in revenue. The spread of reliable and affordable electricity will rectify widespread energy poverty issues. Schoolchildren will find all-new educational opportunities, and the overall quality of life in Africa will significantly improve.Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, commissioner of infrastructure and energy at the African Union Commission, said after the Covid-19 pandemic access to energy in Africa had slowed down, and 30 million more people had succumbed to energy poverty.She emphasised that energy was a critical element for economic growth, and developmental gains of the past two decades were being lost at present.“Africa’s lack of energy means that it has to utilise all forms of its abundant and untapped energy resources to meet its energy needs. The estimates are that we have to quadruple the current efforts being made for Africa to reach universal access to energy.”She said now was not a time “to be picking and choosing” what resources to use. “If Africa uses all its resources – fossil fuels included – to deliver universal access to energy to all Africa, it will still not exceed 3.5% of global emissions. This is a figure we need to remember before any country in the developed world starts lecturing or preaching to Africa about its emissions, the energy transition or the move away from fossil fuels.”Abou-Zeid said the development of Africa was reliant on the oil and gas sector, and it would continue to play a critical role on the continent, regardless of the demands of the western world.“There is a compelling case beyond a shred of doubt on the legitimacy for Africa to continue to pursue its development agenda using oil and gas.”Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, agrees and has pledged to increase oil and gas exploration in the country, saying these were critical resources for economic development.“The ongoing discoveries of oil and gas in southern Africa have been very encouraging. There have been massive discoveries in Angola, Namibia and Mozambique that we must invest in. We must invest in beneficiation to boost local production,” he said.It is estimated that between 2026 and 2030, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, and the Senegal/Mauritanian region will be capable of producing a million barrels of oil per day (boepd) and 2.5 million boepd over the following decade.This production rate will initially account for 8% of Africa’s oil and gas output, increasing to roughly 20% of its total production between 2031 and 2040.
