While the world is busy implementing the resolutions related to the so-called Energy Transition, Africa is more than ever at a crossroads. Indeed, while some cynics have observed that climate funds could prove to be another way for African countries with high potential for the new energy economy, namely those with huge deposits of mineral resources, to mortgage their resources with money lenders, it is not up to the continent to seek to go it alone in a world that has become a global village.
No. Africa does not need to reinvent the wheel. Africa can do well by adapting technologies developed by others for its own good. So, with the right environment, many Africans in the diaspora, who have excelled in various areas of technology, including oil and gas, will be happy to return home and help make their societies better.
We can also attract non-Africans to Africa with the skills required to help us adapt and develop our technologies. All we have to do is to commit ourselves, at all levels of our societies, to creating an environment conducive to the transformation of our continent.
The solution is there. It lies in the ability of States to create an enabling environment to attract qualified human resources to Africa to work in our regional centres of excellence in oil and gas. As for the institutions, it will be a question of buying their franchises, their laboratories and their research equipment. We can agree with them to relocate their facilities to Africa if they are allowed to do so.
It is therefore more than clear that in order to achieve its goals, Africa will need two important inputs: political will and financial commitment. And for both of these contributions to be made, African leaders must view energy security as directly linked to national security.
Suffice it to say, as long as Africa does not classify energy security as essential to our national security, the continent will continue to grope in the dark.
