Michael Eboh
Dublin, Ireland — Africa’s inability to harness its over 620 trillion cubic feet of gas has been described as a human tragedy by a oil and gas expert, Dr. Justice Derefaka, a former senior technical adviser on gas matters to two former minister of state for petroleum resources and one-time coordinator of the gas flare commercialisation programme.
Derefaka, who was speaking at Sahara Energy Group’s Asharami Square 2.0, in Lagos, weekend, lamented that Africa is still wallowing in poverty and under-development despite having more than enough gas to power every home and industry in the continent, reduce poverty drastically and drive industrialisation.
He said: “Nigeria, Africa’s gas giant, with over 206 TCF of proven reserves and an upside potential exceeding 600 TCF, a wealth capable of powering the entire continent, feeding its fields, and securing its future.
“Yet on the other hand, the reality is sobering: over 600 million Africans still live without electricity (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy). Over 900 million rely on firewood and charcoal to cook their meals (SDGs 3, 5, 13). Entire economies remain throttled by fragile grids and imported fuels.
“This contradiction, that is, wealth below the ground, want above it, is not a policy failure. It is a human tragedy.”
He warned that Africa cannot afford to continue to export its gas and other raw and natural resources to drive foreign economies, while importing finished products of the same raw materials.
In the light of ongoing narratives around climate action and reduction in fossil fuels, Derefaka argued that gas must be part of a balanced, just energy transition, enabling Africa to grow while contributing to climate mitigation.
He said: “We understand our planet is in peril. But climate justice must go hand-in-hand with climate ambition.
“It is neither fair nor sustainable to tell Africa to abandon its gas while the developed world continues to burn coal, expand oil production, and import African Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
“Even if Africa fully developed its gas reserves, our per capita emissions would remain among the lowest globally, yet the development gains would be enormous.”
To enjoy the benefits of Africa’s huge gas resources, the former technical aide to Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Chief Timipre Sylva — two former petroleum ministers — said that African governments must partner in building regional gas infrastructure, prioritise local value addition, strengthen governance and transparency, invest in human capital development and technology, and balance climate goals with development needs.
“Harnessing Africa’s gas — responsibly, equitably, and urgently — is not just development. It is justice. And it is long overdue. The time has come to look each other in the eye and ask ourselves: if not us, then who? If not now, then when?
“We, as Africans, cannot afford to wait for others to light our fires for us. We must rise together to claim the dignity, the justice, and the dreams that our people have been denied for far too long. We have the resource. We have the need. We have the knowledge. What remains is the collective will to act,” he asserted.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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