At a time when African countries, governments and players in the oil and gas industry are making a strong case for the need for an equitable energy transition in Africa, one that to make history on energy poverty and mitigating the effects of climate change, same, Africa Oil Week (AOW). ) continued to misrepresent their conference attendees, saying that ministerial confirmations were made when in fact, they were not. Through these misrepresentations, AOW continues to push its Green Energy Africa Summit industry narrative, a narrative constructed in London and forced on Africa. As the voice of the African energy sector and an organization that remains committed to African energy and African people, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) condemns AOW for these misrepresentations, especially during that Africa’s energy future depends on unity and transparency.
Over the years, Africa has committed to ensuring transparency, security and an enabling environment, promoting investment in the continent’s significant oil, gas and renewable energy resources with the goal of making history of energy poverty by 2030. However, London-based conferences such as AOW continue to undermine any progress made in this regard, with the group regularly misrepresenting and lying about their conference delegates. In 2021, AOW lied about ministerial attendance, and now in 2022, this trend only continues.
“We are sending a message to AOW and we are going to court to ask them to correct their distortions,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of AEC, adding that, “Imagine if we did that in London or Europe ?AOW did this last year in Dubai and then lied about it. This is the same group that wrote to African leaders, lying that Hon. Gwede Mantashe attended their conference in Dubai when they found out without him. They continue to lie about HE Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, along with other African dignitaries. Now, they continue to misrepresent, lie to their delegates, players in the energy industry and investor in an effort to undermine Africa’s Energy Week.
While the misrepresentation sends the wrong message to global and African energy stakeholders, AOW takes it a step further, pushing a narrative that the only viable energy transition strategy in Africa is their strategy promoted through the conference’s Green Energy Summit. Founded in London without regard to Africa’s needs, AOW’s ‘go green’ solution calls on the continent to abandon its oil and gas resources in the name of climate change. What AOW fails to consider is that by 2022, over 600 million people will not have access to electricity and over 900 million will not have access to clean cooking solutions, with the COVID-19 pandemic which pushes many people back to the poverty line. As climate change continues to impact the continent, simply ‘going green’ is not the answer. By 2022, Africa will be in dire need of oil and gas resources, and as such, the AEC and other African stakeholders continue to highlight the need for an equitable energy transition: one that is built in Africa and for in Africa.
“On behalf of the oil and gas industry, the AEC is appalled by these blatant misrepresentations just to force Africa to buy into the narrative of the AOW’s Green Energy Africa Summit formulated in London. The AOW’s idea to force the Africans to run away from oil and gas and go green is unacceptable. If the green movement means misrepresentations from Simon Ford and Master Mark Samuel Shashoua, then we are all in trouble,” continued Ayuk , and added that, “This is not the time to run away from oil and gas. At this stage, we need to invest more. We need to close deals, explore more and make history of energy poverty.
During the African Energy Week (AEW) 2022, the largest energy event taking place on the continent this year, discussions were particularly focused on an African-based and driven energy transition. By prioritizing deal signing, exploration and production and investment, AEW 2022 is committed to highlighting Africa’s position in the energy transition, the continent’s energy future and how oil and gas fit into the future.
Distributed by APO Group for African Energy Week (AEW).
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