Africa Is Not Europe’s Gas Station
Support our newsroom by MAKING A CONTRIBUTION HERE
Germany and Italy are telling Africans that we should saddle ourselves with fossil-fuel infrastructure that will soon become a drag on our economies and propel us toward climate disaster. We must respond with a firm no, and instead demand that European countries support us in the development of renewable-energy systems.

NAIROBI – Having been thrust to the front lines of a climate crisis we did not cause, Africans have long urged rich countries to wean themselves off fossil fuels and slash their greenhouse-gas emissions. But, instead of heeding our calls, the rich have remained addicted to oil and gas – much of which, in Europe’s case, has come from Russia. Now they are taking this insult a step further: in their drive to end their dependence on Russian energy, the world’s wealthiest economies are turning to Africa.
Over the past few months, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has been working tirelessly to secure new gas deals with Algeria, Angola, Egypt, and the Republic of the Congo. The closing of every single deal – the terms of which remain opaque – was attended by the CEO of Eni, the largest fossil-fuel company active on the African continent. In other words, Draghi, a public servant, has been using government resources to deliver overwhelmingly private gains to an Italian company.
Similarly, in May, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz started his first official trip to Africa in Senegal, where he announced plans to pursue energy projects “intensively.” Talks on gas extraction and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production have already begun, with Scholz expressing willingness to offer technical investments in power-plant infrastructure in Senegal.
It is not only those seeking to import the continent’s fossil-fuel resources who believe that Africa should extract more of them. Mary Robinson, a former president of Ireland and United Nations high commissioner for human rights, recently argued that Africa should be exploiting its vast natural-gas reserves.
Robinson believes this would be just: by boosting energy access and spurring development on the continent, natural-gas extraction would help the hundreds of millions of Africans whom the fossil-fuel system has so far failed. But, ultimately, what she is advocating is not much different from Draghi and Scholz’s strategy: use European taxpayers’ money to help massive corporations expand gas exploration and exploitation on African lands.
Robinson envisions the gas (and profits) going to Africans, but it is far more likely to be sent to Europe. As the Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate recently pointed out, fossil-fuel development is nothing new for Africa, and it has long failed to reduce energy poverty or bring prosperity.
In fact, African economies that depend on fossil-fuel exports suffer slower rates of economic growth – sometimes up to three times slower – than those with diversified economies. In Mozambique, foreign companies, led by Eni and TotalEnergies, have invested nearly $30 billion in developing offshore natural-gas reserves and LNG capacity. Yet 70% of people still live without access to electricity.
It is unacceptable, not to mention unjust, that Germany and Italy are pushing African countries to pour their limited financial reserves into developing a fossil-fuel extraction and export industry for European consumers, especially with European demand set to plummet in a matter of years, as investments in renewables come online.
Such investments are an integral part of the European Union’s plan for ending its dependence on Russian energy. The EU now aims to increase renewables’ share of its energy mix to 40% – or even 45% – by 2030, and overall gas demand is expected to fall 30% by 2030. Moreover, Germany and Italy both plan to reach net-zero emissions within the next 30 years. The EU’s new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will further accelerate the transition, as it penalizes countries stuck on fossil fuels.
Oil and gas companies are well aware of the impact this shift will have on their bottom lines. For them, the goal of expanding output in Africa amounts to a cynical effort to squeeze every drop of profit out of their declining industry while they still can. The fact that they will leave African countries holding the stranded assets is just as immaterial to them as their contributions to climate change have been.
Robinson is right about one thing: Africans need access to energy to enjoy lives of dignity. But that is no reason to invest in a system that has already failed – precisely the system from which Europe is trying to wean itself. Instead, Africa must invest in distributed renewable-energy systems, which would bring true prosperity and security to our continent, rather than poisoning our food, polluting our rivers, and choking our lungs to profit remote shareholders.
African climate-justice champions are very clear that we want to avoid locking in planetary catastrophe as much as we want to deliver universal energy access. Unfortunately, African leaders do not seem to share our commitment to either goal. Rather than using their time with Western leaders to demand support for the renewable-energy transition, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi agreed to increase oil and gas production and exports to Europe. Senegalese President Macky Sall appears eager to join them, establishing Senegal as a fossil-fuel supplier for Europe.
During centuries of colonial rule, when European leaders told Africa to jump, we asked, “How high?” Now Germany and Italy are telling us to saddle ourselves with fossil-fuel infrastructure that will soon become a drag on our economies and propel us toward climate disaster. We must respond with a firm no, and instead demand that countries like Germany and Italy, and leaders like Robinson, support us in the development and implementation of renewable-energy systems.
Mohamed Adow is Director of Power Shift Africa, a Nairobi-based think tank.
The text has been adapted from Project Syndicate website
The point of view of your article has taught me a lot, and I already know how to improve the paper on gate.oi, thank you. https://www.gate.io/pt/signup/XwNAU
Very shortly this web site will be famous amid all blogging and
site-building viewers, due to it’s nice content
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I
find this matter to be actually something that I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I
will try to get the hang of it!
Excellent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how could i subscribe for a weblog website?
The account aided me a appropriate deal. I were
tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea
Attractive portion of content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that
I get actually loved account your weblog posts. Anyway I will be
subscribing on your feeds or even I achievement you get right of entry to persistently fast.
I believe people who wrote this needs true loving because it’s a
blessing. So let me give back and speak out on change your life and if you
want to seriously get to hear I will share info about how to make passive income Don’t forget..
I am always here for yall. Bless yall!
Hello! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for
my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Hi there, I discovered your blog via Google whilst searching for a
comparable matter, your site came up, it appears great.
I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, simply was aware of your blog via Google, and located that it’s truly informative.
I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate in the event you
continue this in future. Lots of folks will probably be benefited out of your writing.
Cheers!
I will right away seize your rss as I can not in finding your
e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any?
Kindly permit me recognise so that I may just subscribe.
Thanks.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this article and the rest
of the website is extremely good.
buying prednisone without prescription: https://prednisone1st.store/# prednisone canada prices
It’s amazing to pay a visit this web page and reading the views
of all colleagues on the topic of this piece of writing, while I am also keen of getting familiarity.
Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no
back up. Do you have any methods to stop hackers?
Onnce you are ready to get into genuine income action, the minimum bet is commonly $1.
Here is my web site … Baccarat Rules
With a non-cashable bonus, you can’t withdraw your bonus cash.
my webpage: 바카라사이트
Wow, wonderful weblog format! How lengthy have you been blogging for?
you made running a blog look easy. The overall look of your web site is fantastic,
as smartly as the content!
Our casino games contain video slots, viodeo poker games, table
games and specialty games.
my webpage; View website
Hey there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this
site with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely loving the information.
I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Superb blog and fantastic style and design.
Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve really loved surfing around your blog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing on your rss feed and I am hoping you write again soon!
It’s actually a cool and useful piece of info. I’m glad that you just shared this
helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like
this. Thank you for sharing.
I all the time emailed this web site post page to all my associates, as if like to
read it afterward my contacts will too.
Sexy, This is a good website Sexy
Erectile, This is a good website Erectile
Prostate, This is a good website Prostate
Labia, This is a good website Labia
Explicit, This is a good website Explicit
Nude, This is a good website Nude
Libido, This is a good website Libido
Fetish, This is a good website Fetish
Stamina, This is a good website Stamina
http://withoutprescription.guru/# ed meds online without doctor prescription
http://indiapharm.guru/# indianpharmacy com
treatment for ed cheap erectile dysfunction pills or male ed pills
https://www.google.fm/url?sa=t&url=https://edpills.icu best otc ed pills
natural ed remedies compare ed drugs and ed treatment review mens erection pills
https://edpills.icu/# new ed pills
generic viagra without a doctor prescription discount prescription drugs buy prescription drugs without doctor
https://edpills.icu/# cheap erectile dysfunction
http://edpills.icu/# cures for ed
prescription drugs canada buy online ed meds online without doctor prescription discount prescription drugs
buying prescription drugs in mexico online п»їbest mexican online pharmacies or buying from online mexican pharmacy
https://www.google.dm/url?q=http://mexicopharm.shop mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
medication from mexico pharmacy medicine in mexico pharmacies and buying prescription drugs in mexico purple pharmacy mexico price list
male ed drugs herbal ed treatment or male erection pills
https://images.google.gm/url?sa=t&url=https://edpills.icu best erectile dysfunction pills
erectile dysfunction pills erection pills viagra online and erectile dysfunction drugs best ed pills online
https://withoutprescription.guru/# non prescription erection pills
https://withoutprescription.guru/# 100mg viagra without a doctor prescription
generic viagra without a doctor prescription prescription drugs online without doctor viagra without a doctor prescription
https://tadalafil.trade/# tadalafil canadian pharmacy price
Vardenafil price Buy Vardenafil online Vardenafil buy online
https://edpills.monster/# medications for ed
sildenafil price sildenafil australia online sildenafil citrate tablets
super kamagra cheap kamagra or Kamagra Oral Jelly
https://auth.motmom.com/sign_in?callback=http://kamagra.team buy Kamagra
Kamagra Oral Jelly cheap kamagra and Kamagra tablets super kamagra
http://tadalafil.trade/# tadalafil online price
ed meds online what is the best ed pill top erection pills
sildenafil generic usa cost of sildenafil 100mg tablets or generic sildenafil online uk
https://images.google.com.ai/url?sa=t&url=https://sildenafil.win buy cheap sildenafil online uk
sildenafil 50 mg tablet price in india sildenafil australia and canada generic sildenafil sildenafil for sale india
п»їkamagra: Kamagra 100mg – cheap kamagra
https://sildenafil.win/# sildenafil 100mg usa
Levitra online USA fast Levitra online USA fast Levitra 10 mg buy online
sildenafil oral jelly 100mg kamagra cheap kamagra or Kamagra tablets
http://silvercrestmetals.com/outurl.php?url=http://kamagra.team super kamagra
Kamagra 100mg price Kamagra 100mg price and п»їkamagra cheap kamagra
http://sildenafil.win/# where can i buy sildenafil
medicine tadalafil tablets tadalafil 100mg online cheapest tadalafil us
sildenafil citrate women generic sildenafil citrate 100mg or buy sildenafil 20 mg tablets
http://clients1.google.com.au/url?q=https://sildenafil.win sildenafil citrate sublingual
sildenafil cost comparison sildenafil for sale online and buy sildenafil citrate 100mg 200mg sildenafil soft gel capsule
buy vibramycin doxycycline buy online vibramycin 100 mg
doxycycline 100mg capsules uk: buy doxycycline over the counter – doxycycline cost in india
zithromax online pharmacy canada buy cheap generic zithromax where can you buy zithromax
doxycycline 100mg pills: Buy Doxycycline for acne – doxycycline 300 mg cost
cipro 500mg best prices cipro or ciprofloxacin over the counter
http://sat-plus.net/ext_link?url=https://ciprofloxacin.men buy ciprofloxacin over the counter
cipro for sale ciprofloxacin generic and cipro buy ciprofloxacin over the counter
price of lisinopril buy lisinopril online cheap lisinopril
amoxicillin 500 mg without prescription: cheap amoxicillin – can you buy amoxicillin over the counter in canada
where can i buy zithromax uk zithromax buy online or how to get zithromax online
https://ashbonn.de/umleitung.php?link=azithromycin.bar zithromax for sale us
buy zithromax no prescription zithromax online paypal and average cost of generic zithromax buy zithromax online
antibiotics cipro ciprofloxacin without insurance ciprofloxacin
lisinopril 40 mg prices: Over the counter lisinopril – prescription medicine lisinopril
order amoxicillin 500mg: amoxicillin 825 mg – amoxicillin for sale
ciprofloxacin cipro or buy generic ciprofloxacin
https://www.mfkruzomberok.sk/media_show.asp?type=3&id=160&url_back=https://ciprofloxacin.men buy ciprofloxacin over the counter
ciprofloxacin over the counter п»їcipro generic and buy ciprofloxacin tablets buy cipro
lisinopril 20 mg generic buy lisinopril online lisinopril pills for sale
amoxicillin order online no prescription: purchase amoxicillin online – where can i get amoxicillin 500 mg
zithromax 1000 mg online zithromax 500 mg or zithromax z-pak price without insurance
http://www.iheartmyteacher.org/proxy.php?link=https://azithromycin.bar zithromax price south africa
zithromax capsules price buy zithromax online cheap and zithromax 250 mg australia where can i get zithromax
doxycycline 50 mg price uk buy doxycycline south africa or doxycycline cap price
https://www.google.gr/url?q=https://doxycycline.forum buy doxycycline online no prescription
doxycycline 400 mg daily order doxycycline 100mg and how can i get doxycycline over the counter order doxycycline
buy cipro online canada: ciprofloxacin without insurance – ciprofloxacin generic
buy doxycycline online cheap doxycycline buy online cheap doxycycline tablets
buy amoxicillin 500mg canada: buy amoxil – buy amoxil
canadadrugpharmacy com: safe online pharmacy – certified canadian pharmacy
mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexican pharmacy online – reputable mexican pharmacies online
online pharmacies without an rx: buy drugs online safely – canadian prescription drugs online
online pharmacy india buy prescription drugs from india or Online medicine home delivery
http://www.google.st/url?q=http://indiapharmacy.site Online medicine order
indian pharmacy online shopping pharmacy india and indian pharmacy online best india pharmacy
online pharmacies: online pharmacy usa – international pharmacies that ship to the usa
mexico drug stores pharmacies mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa or mexico drug stores pharmacies
https://maps.google.co.ao/url?q=https://mexicopharmacy.store mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
buying prescription drugs in mexico online buying prescription drugs in mexico online and buying prescription drugs in mexico online п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
mexican pharmaceuticals online: mexican pharmacy – buying from online mexican pharmacy
cheap prescription drugs online top mail order pharmacies in usa or best canadian pharmacy for viagra
http://www.sfghfghfdg.appspot.com/url?q=https://buydrugsonline.top canada medicine
best canadian pharmacies mexican pharmacy testosterone and online pharmacies legitimate prescription price checker
online pharmacy reviews Mail order pharmacy canada pharmacy online no script
online canadian drugstore: canadian pharmacy 24h com safe – canadian pharmacy 24 com
neurontin pfizer: neurontin india – buying neurontin without a prescription
http://claritin.icu/# ventolin 90
can you buy cheap clomid no prescription: clomid best price – how to get cheap clomid without insurance
http://claritin.icu/# price of ventolin inhaler
Paxlovid over the counter cheap paxlovid online paxlovid covid
neurontin 500 mg tablet: buy gabapentin – neurontin capsule 600mg
https://paxlovid.club/# paxlovid generic
wellbutrin 450 xl: Buy bupropion online Europe – wellbutrin buy online uk
cheap clomid price: Buy Clomid Online – buy generic clomid without dr prescription
https://paxlovid.club/# paxlovid cost without insurance
paxlovid generic: п»їpaxlovid – paxlovid price
gabapentin 600 mg neurontin 800 pill or buy neurontin uk
http://www.google.com.my/url?q=https://gabapentin.life neurontin 300
neurontin generic cost neurontin 100mg caps and neurontin cost australia cost of neurontin 600mg
cost of clomid without prescription how to get generic clomid without prescription or can i buy cheap clomid without prescription
https://toolbarqueries.google.pl/url?q=https://clomid.club cost of clomid prices
how to buy cheap clomid online buy clomid pills and clomid otc can i order clomid for sale
ventolin buy online albuterol ventolin or ventolin over the counter canada
https://maps.google.bi/url?q=http://claritin.icu ventolin online australia
order ventolin online no prescription no prescription ventolin and ventolin capsule ventolin india
cost of clomid prices: Clomiphene Citrate 50 Mg – where to get clomid now
https://gabapentin.life/# neurontin 50mg tablets
buy wellbutrin online: Buy bupropion online Europe – best generic wellbutrin 2018
buy cheap clomid price: Buy Clomid Online – order cheap clomid
https://clomid.club/# buying cheap clomid no prescription
can you get generic clomid without insurance Buy Clomid Online Without Prescription clomid pill
how can i get clomid online: Buy Clomid Online – buy generic clomid without dr prescription
https://clomid.club/# where can i get cheap clomid without a prescription
can i get generic clomid without rx Clomiphene Citrate 50 Mg can you get clomid
how can i get clomid online: Buy Clomid Shipped From Canada – order cheap clomid pills
http://clomid.club/# where to buy cheap clomid without insurance
get clomid without a prescription clomid best price where to buy cheap clomid online
how to buy generic clomid: Clomiphene Citrate 50 Mg – get generic clomid without dr prescription
https://clomid.club/# cost clomid without insurance
buy generic clomid without dr prescription get generic clomid now how to get cheap clomid without insurance
can i purchase cheap clomid: clomid best price – cost of clomid without prescription
https://paxlovid.club/# paxlovid price
wellbutrin tablets: Buy Wellbutrin XL online – where to buy wellbutrin sr
buying generic clomid no prescription: order clomid – can i purchase cheap clomid
http://clomid.club/# can i purchase generic clomid without rx
buy clomid pills Clomiphene Citrate 50 Mg how to get clomid for sale
where buy clomid pills can i get clomid prices or where can i get generic clomid pills
http://webmail.anacondaweb.com/redir.php?https://clomid.club can you buy clomid prices
how can i get clomid without rx buying clomid without prescription and order cheap clomid where to buy generic clomid without rx
how to buy cheap clomid: Buy Clomid Shipped From Canada – where can i buy generic clomid without a prescription
http://clomid.club/# cost cheap clomid price
cost of clomid without insurance clomid best price clomid no prescription
neurontin oral neurontin capsules 100mg or medication neurontin
http://reklamagoda.ru/engine/redirect.php?url=http://gabapentin.life neurontin price
buy generic neurontin order neurontin and where to buy neurontin purchase neurontin
where buy cheap clomid pill: clomid best price – where can i get cheap clomid without dr prescription
http://clomid.club/# where to buy generic clomid without a prescription
can i get cheap clomid pills can you get cheap clomid online where buy clomid without dr prescription
buying generic clomid without a prescription: clomid best price – can i purchase cheap clomid without a prescription
https://clomid.club/# generic clomid without rx
where buy clomid no prescription Buy Clomid Shipped From Canada can you get clomid