GAS IS A FOSSIL FUEL!

DON’T GAS AFRICA FAULTS AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERMENT FOR INCLUSION OF GAS IN AFRICA’S ENERGY MIX

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: February 20, 2025

African and global civil society actors have reacted with dismay to the apparent promotion of natural gas as part of a “balanced energy mix” in Africa’s clean energy transition agenda by African Heads of State. Terming the move “ironical”, they said that, while renewables continue to grow exponentially globally, “the Mission 300 pledge seems to entrap Africans in a fossil gas-based system”.

They were reacting to a statement from the Energy Summit on Providing Access to Electricity for 300 Million People in Africa by 2030, dubbed Mission 300, in which African Heads of State of Government meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in January, noted that they had resolved to, among others: “Pursue ambitious yet achievable goals for access to electricity and clean cooking solutions, increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix and increase private capital mobilisation; and take concrete and time-bound actions to…. leverage the benefits of increased regional integration by investing in interconnections; harmonising transmission planning, pricing, standards and grid codes within the power pools; and fostering cooperation among countries to unlock Africa’s full energy potential, including gas as well as hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal and other clean energy sources.” While efforts to accelerate cleaner energy production are commendable, the inclusion.