Under Attack, AEC Vows To Continue With Fight For African Energy Independence

By Samuel Ouma [caption id="attachment_97631" align="alignnone" width="640"] We will not give in to intimidation and the ruthless attempts to keep us quiet," says  NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.[/caption] The Africa Energy Chamber (AEC) has announced that the lawsuit filed against it by British-based Hyve Group will not disrupt their efforts to make energy poverty history by 2030. AEC said it will remain focused and committed to ensuring the African continent benefits from its oil and gas. At the same time, the chamber called for a well-planned, strategic approach to Africa's energy transition, which considers the needs of Africans today, tomorrow and for future generations. The Chamber criticized the lawsuit, claiming that despite Africa accounting for less than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent is still being asked to abandon its oil and gas in the name of climate change, thereby shouldering the burdens of developed countries that continue to develop oil and gas. AEC gave an example of the UK, which announced a significant oil and gas bid licensing after the COP26 in Glasgow. It also claimed that the European nation is looking at re-opening its coal mines for the first time in 30 years. Germany is also building new LNG terminals, and Norway has given out 52 oil licenses. AEC added that Hyve Group is responsible for launching the Green Energy Africa Summit and Africa Oil Week's disastrous move to Dubai in 2021, citing Africa's inability to host a large-scale event. According to the Chamber, the lawsuit is intended to silence the AEC and Africa while preventing the development of the continent's oil and gas resources. "When they lose, they get desperate, and this is what this lawsuit is: a desperate attempt to silence Africa. They are employing their bullying tactics, threatening the AEC, an organization which has only ever been committed to Africa's development. Their misrepresentations have cost us a lot of money, and yet we continue to push for the continent we love and the continent we are committed to. We will fight back like never before. We will not give in to intimidation and the ruthless attempts to keep us quiet," says  NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. Not mincing words, the  AEC said Africa needs its oil and gas and announced that it supports the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, Mozambique’s right to develop its gas resources, Senegal and Mauritania’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project, as well as gas monetization plans in Nigeria, Ghana, the Congo, Cameroon and Angola, among others. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has been the voice of the African energy sector for years and has become an invaluable advocate for Africa’s oil and gas industry at a time when global stakeholders are calling for the immediate end to fossil fuel utilization. With over 600 million without access to electricity and 900 million people without access to clean cooking solutions, the continent desperately needs its oil and gas reserves if it is to make energy poverty history by 2030. AEC has remained focused and committed, calling for a well-planned, strategic approach to Africa’s energy transition, one which considers the needs of Africans today, tomorrow and for future generations. While Africa is only responsible for less than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent is still being asked to abandon its oil and gas in the name of climate change, thus, carrying the burdens of developed countries, ones which continue to develop oil and gas. After COP26 in Glasgow, the UK announced a major oil and gas bid licensing round; the US opened federal lands for drilling; England is looking at re-opening its coal mines for the first time in 30 years; Germany is building new LNG terminals, and Norway has given out 52 oil licenses. The chamber believes that Africans should have the right to explore oil and gas in the same these countries are. "The stakes are too high for Africans for us to let some 'woke' British company tell us to go green. They do not represent Africa and any attempt to silence Africa by this UK-based company must be put to a stop." “We need to FIGHT BACK, and we cannot do it without your help,” the African Energy Chamber says. To join the fight against Hyve Group, AOW, and Green Energy Africa Summit's efforts to silence an African organization, AEC has asked supporters to donate to https://energychamber.org/donate/. It was stated that the donations will help make energy poverty a thing of the past in Africa. The move by British-based Hyve Group CEO Mark Shashoua is not the first time UK activists and groups have targeted African organizations, oil and gas projects, and governments. Friends of the Earth filed a lawsuit to prevent funding for the Mozambique LNG project, and Extinction Rebellion harassed African executives at a May 2022 energy conference in London.