AEC Urges Africa Nations to Accelerate Energy Sector Devt

Samuel Mobolaji

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has advised African nations not to be distracted in their efforts to boost their economies using natural resources which they have in abundance.

The executive chairman of the Chamber, NJ Ayuk, reminded them that the recent attempt by Dialogue Earth to discredit the $20 billion Dangote refinery with 650,000 barrels a day capacity is just one of the many attempts by western-based and funded Non-Governmental Organizations NGOs to stop oil and gas projects in Africa.

Ayuk said, from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline in Uganda to offshore exploration in South Africa to LNG projects in Mozambique, such organisations appear committed to restricting access to energy in Africa.

“We have seen how African crude oil has been treated, how funding for Mozambique LNG has been treated, how the west has constantly attacked South Africa as it tries to develop it its natural gas and how they have constantly attacked other gas projects and cut off financing. These tactics are hurtful to African development, our fight against energy poverty and to young people that want to build strong democracies,” added Ayuk.

The Independent non-profit organisation Dialogue Earth has been accused of attempting to mobilize a smear campaign against Africa’s largest refinery – the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery.

The NGO allegedly contacted Nigerian journalist David Hundeyin to produce an article stating that the refinery raises questions about the country’s climate ambitions while assessing the implications of increased fossil fuel utilization in Nigeria.

In a statement released on X, Hundeyin highlights the article for what it is: an attempt by a western NGO to use an African voice to endorse energy poverty in Africa.

Representing the voice of the African energy sector and a strong advocate for African voices, the AEC strongly condemns the dirty tactics employed by Dialogue Earth to hire Africans and use them to destroy their own oil and gas industry.

The AEC has long-promoted the critical role oil and gas plays in driving economic development and advancing clean-fuel utilization in Africa.

Projects such as Dangote Nigeria’s first large-scale refinery stand to transform West Africa by reducing the reliance on imported fuel, increasing the availability of clean and locally-sourced petroleum while creating jobs and business opportunities.

The Dialogue Earth campaign is a clear demonstration of how the west is demonizing the industry and preventing any meaningful progress to alleviate energy poverty in Africa.

Dialogue Earth allegedly offered Hundeyin USD $500 to write the article, with the brief highlighting several contradictions and areas of concern.

Firstly, Dialogue Earth allegedly shared that the purpose of the article was to identify the environmental implications of the Dangote Refinery on Nigeria, particularly within the context of the country’s energy transition.

However, Nigeria has strongly advocated for the role oil and gas plays in its transition, advocating for a just transition whereby the country can reduce emissions in a way that protects the economy and reduces energy poverty.