By Ajong Mbapndah L. and Boris Esono Nwenfor
It was an amazing engagement with the students and unlike other campuses I did not get called crazy names because I believe Africa needs to develop its oil and gas, says NJ Ayuk the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber after a stop at Cambridge to tout African Energy perspectives.
Participating at the recent Cambridge African Together Conference, NJ Ayuk was bold in articulating seminal issues and stakes for Africa in the energy debate, following a fireside chat with the African Society President Nathan Odiase Osareme.
NJ Ayuk emphasised the critical need to view climate change and energy through an African lens for authentic transformation. He illuminated the unique challenges and opportunities that the continent faces in these sectors and argued that global frameworks often don’t offer solutions tailored to Africa’s specific needs.
“Before we get to global warming, we have to get through a very cold winter. Especially in many European countries where there are supply shortages and price spikes for home heating fuel and natural gas. We have to deal with energy poverty in Africa where more than 600 million have no access to any form of electricity, most of them women,” NJ Ayuk said .
“Now we have to pay attention to the constant attacks and demonization of energy companies. It is wrong. If you tax oil companies because they make a profit, you’re going to get less oil, you’re going to get higher prices, you’re going to get more economic misery and incidentally, as we have discussed in the past, oil and natural gas permeate throughout our economies and societies.”
NJ Ayuk further elaborated on the various entry points for individuals aspiring to join the energy sector and stressed the importance of impact-driven initiatives. He urged the audience to not just seek transformation but to prioritise impact, for real change starts at the grassroots level.
“Let us just be real,” the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber said. “Our hearing aids, glasses, contact lenses, soaps, antiseptics, aspirin, tennis rackets, tents, tires, toothbrushes, backpacks, ballpoint pens, beach umbrellas, dog collars, golf balls and bags, guitar strings, hair curlers and let’s not forget, insect repellants just to name a few all come from fossil fuels. You can’t replace that with wind and solar.”
With Africa’s vast reserves estimated at 125.3 billion barrels of crude oil and 620 trillion cubic feet of proven gas, unlocking this immense potential becomes crucial to meet the continent’s energy demands. In a continent where 600 million people face energy poverty and over 900 million lack access to clean cooking, ensuring energy security takes centre stage. To address this challenge, Africa must harness and leverage its abundant hydrocarbon and renewable energy potential to provide affordable and reliable energy solutions across the continent.
“Oil and natural gas dominate everyday life in Africa and across the world today. The mistake many of the green evangelists make is that they think parents, moms, dads and poor folks sitting around kitchen tables don’t know this,” NJ Ayuk added.
“We must never apologize for “Drill, Baby Brill.” We need it so no apologies. I am going to the African Union this week and I will ask them to reclassify and declare natural gas as Green Energy/Renewable. The Europeans have already done this but their greenies are financing massive campaigns against us in Africa. African Greenies need to be smarter and think about Africa First before the handouts coming from the NGOs.”
About African Energy Week
African Energy Week (AEW) is the African Energy Chamber’s annual event, uniting African energy leaders, global investors and executives from across the public and private sectors for four days of intense dialogue on the future of the African energy industry. An interactive conference, exhibition and networking event, AEW was established in 2021 under the premise of making energy poverty history by 2030, hosting panel discussions, investor forums, industry summits and one-on-one meeting opportunities, and driving the discussions that will reshape the trajectory of the continent’s energy development.
At the forefront of the African energy industry, AEW promotes the role Africa plays in global energy matters, centred around African-led dialogue and decision-making. Covering the entire energy sector and value chain, AEW represents the only conference on the continent representative of the entire sector.
AEW goes beyond passive engagement, hosting insightful workshops and side events that empower young talents to actively shape Africa’s energy landscape. The 2023 edition will come up from October 16-20 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Under the theme, ‘The African Energy Renaissance: Prioritizing Energy Poverty, People, the Planet, Industrialization, and Free Markets,’ AEW aims to chart a new course for Africa’s energy landscape. AEW will serve as a platform for in-depth discussions, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities, centered around the critical issues of energy poverty, sustainable development, industrialization, and the importance of free markets.
