New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Africa must set and follow its own energy transition agenda
17/1/2024
8 min read
Feature
We are becoming familiar with the concept of a ‘just’ energy transition, one that treats populations with different needs fairly. But for the large and diverse continent of Africa, it also needs to be based on an agenda developed by Africans, writes Andrew Mourant.
For Africa, a continent baked in sunshine yet one where so many lack access to electricity, renewable energy – principally solar – seems the obvious way forward to bettering lives. The resource is constant; the technology getting cheaper.
But there are complicating factors. Countries rich in oil, gas and coal have built economies based on exploiting these. They create wealth, all too often unevenly distributed, but also pollution and environmental scars. Weaning the likes of Nigeria off oil won’t be easy, although there are encouraging signs of it exploring alternatives.
Africa is, unsurprisingly, averse to diktats about reducing emissions from developed countries whose companies are long-term exploiters of its oil and gas reserves. Much needs to change if Africa is to scale up production of clean energy and reduce its role as a polluter.