Osinbajo: Africa must tackle energy poverty for prosperity

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says energy poverty must be tackled headlong for African countries to attain middle-income status and inclusive prosperity for its people.

Osinbajo said this while delivering a Special Public Lecture at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, United States on Monday, April 24.

The Vice President, who spoke on the title ‘Energy Transition in Africa’, outlined specific pathways that would lead to climate-positive economic growth on the continent and at the same time lead to the realisation of the global net-zero emissions targets.

“Africa’s endowments, renewable energy, natural resources, and a young workforce, present a compelling set of circumstances for several pathways to climate-positive growth.

“Low emissions consumption and production, the point being that Africa can, instead of going the carbon-intensive path to providing energy, goods, and services for its own needs, take full advantage of green technologies and practices.

“There is the distinct advantage that Africa can actually pursue a green course of growth without worrying about costly legacy infrastructure,” Osinbajo was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesman, Laolu Akande.

He stated that the second pathway has to do with the recognition that global zero-carbon ambitions could be realised without intentional carbon removal technologies and practices.

The Vice President noted that Africa could ramp up her own potential to do it at scale through a combination of planned land use and ecosystem management, and investment in emerging engineered removal technologies.

“The third pathway is that, with its abundant reserves of renewable energy and raw materials, Africa can become a hugely competitive green manufacturing and energy hub for the world that could also accelerate the greening of global industry.

“Thus, the paradox of an energy-poor continent becoming the green industrial powerhouse of the world is easily resolvable and must be,” Osinbajo added.

He further said the developed world change its perception of Africa, stressing that the continent should not be seen merely as a victim but as a solution in the climate change conversations and the attainment of the global net zero targets by 2050-2060.

On energy poverty, Osinbajo stated that it could only be resolved if there was a significant investment in renewable energy.

“And that can only happen if we create the energy-intense anchor demand that makes the investment in additional renewable energy bankable.

“Therefore, it is not which comes first – renewable energy generation capacity or industrial deployment, both must be developed concurrently,” the Vice President said.

Osinbajo, who also spoke on Africa’s dependence on its oil and gas resources said the use of gas as a transition fuel would not significantly derail the commitment to carbon-negative growth.

He said: “Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan attempts to chart an energy transition pathway which has as its bedrock, the development of renewable energy, specifically solar.

“The plan is to develop 250 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2060.

“The plan outlines our decarbonisation strategies in the areas of power, oil and gas transportation; it also militates against medium to long-term job losses in an industry that has dominated the economy for decades.

“It recommends the role of gas as a transition fuel, to balance large influxes of solar power on the grid, its use as a cheaper, and relatively clean option for base load power for industry, as we watch the cost of solar batteries plunge.

“There are also practical ways in which gas, especially propane, will bridge the gap before the full use of renewables is commercially practical.

“To illustrate the point practically, recently some discussions have been taking place about the decommissioning of industrial scale diesel and petrol generators used at base stations of telecommunication companies in Nigeria.”

Also speaking at the event, the Interim Provost, University of Pennsylvania, Prof. Beth Winkelstein, said the planet was facing an existential struggle against climate change for the earth.

“And indeed for us to last, we must join with our fellow nations around the world in this struggle.

“Like many countries, including the United States, Nigeria is challenged by competing and sometimes conflicting interests and its development prospects are complex.

“Nigeria holds amongst the continent’s largest proven oil reserves and faces a potentially perilous future of climate-induced sea level rise and drought.

“In short, global progress in the battle against climate change needs Nigeria’s partnership and participation,” Winkelstein said.

On his part, Prof. Tukufu Zuberi of the Africana Centre, who spoke about the relationship between the university and Nigeria, thanked Osinbajo for honouring the institution’s invitation, noting that the lecture series was part of its efforts in correcting the negative perceptions about Africa.

Previous speakers, who had featured at the UPENN Special Lecture series hosted by the U.S. Ivy League University’s Centre for Africana Studies, included Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and the President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi.

The Star

Segun Ojo