The global energy body, World Energy Council (WEC), has released its latest report saying African energy leaders see global climate framework uncertainty, high energy prices and commodity prices as the critical issues driving the continent’s energy agenda this year.
According to a statement issued by the council and received by PANA on Saturday, it carried out a survey and found that the African views were in contrast with the global view, where high energy price volatility had for the first time replaced climate framework as the top critical uncertainty.
Commenting on the report, Bonang Mohale, WEC Vice-Chair for Africa, said: “Our African survey finds that, in contrast with the global findings, climate framework has become an even more critical issue.’
”Africa is dramatically vulnerable to climate change, and Africans are becoming more aware that climate change is an urgent and real issue rather than something that only countries with large emissions should worry about.”
The report also pointed out that in Africa, electricity supply remained a critical concern, with growing demand, lack of required investment and increasing power shortages across the continent, adding that renewable energy remained a high-priority issue.
”As a change from last year’s findings, African national governments and regional institutions are taking actions in energy efficiency and regional interconnection, while investment cooperation with China and India is viewed with increasing importance.”
