Climate activists disrupt AEW as advocates insist on continued oil drilling

The opening of African Energy Week in Cape Town took a heated turn Tuesday as climate activists interrupted proceedings, urging an immediate end to fossil fuel expansion.

The disruption occurred as the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk, took the stage, with about three activists rising from the crowd to display placards while calling for an end to oil and gas across Africa.

While the activists had issued warnings prior to the event, promising to disrupt the programme, the four-day conference aimed at promoting investment in Africa’s energy sector, especially fossil fuel.

In his address, Ayuk defended the continent’s need to develop its oil and gas resources, stressing that Africa, which contributes only about 3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, should not be labelled as a climate offender.

He framed the demand to halt fossil fuel projects as an unfair constraint imposed by wealthier nations that rely on Africa for energy resources yet push it toward restrictive climate targets.

“It’s a journey of energy independence for this continent,” Ayuk stated. “Africa should not be the scapegoat for climate problems it didn’t create. When Europe and other nations are scrambling for natural gas, why is Africa discouraged from utilising its own to power its people?”

Ayuk stressed the pressing needs across Africa, where 600 million people lack access to electricity and 900 million are without clean cooking technologies.

He criticised Western nations for attempting to dictate energy policies while overlooking the daily struggles faced by Africans, many of whom continue to live in poverty without basic amenities.

“This industry will be pivotal in lifting Africans out of poverty,” he said while acknowledging the importance of job creation and energy access for communities across countries like Nigeria, Mozambique, Uganda, and Namibia. Ayuk expressed frustration with promises of climate financing that remain unfulfilled.

“Where is the $100 billion promised for climate justice? Promises made, promises broken,” he continued, referencing the global commitment to aid developing nations in mitigating climate impacts.

The Executive Chairman also condemned the exclusion of Africa from international financing options for natural gas projects, a trend driven by some Western nations’ reclassification of gas as a “green” fuel in their own contexts while rejecting its use in Africa.

“Africa should not have to beg for food from countries like Ukraine while it is rich in resources capable of ensuring food security,” Ayuk said. “We need gas to fuel our development, support agriculture, and produce fertilisers. It’s unjust that Africa is stigmatised as a climate criminal when we’re only trying to lift our people out of poverty.”

He further noted that the continent’s economic future would be jeopardised if it continued to rely solely on international aid rather than harnessing its resources, particularly through oil and gas exploration.

Ayuk called on African nations to be unapologetic about their path to energy independence, expressing hope that the next generation of African women and youth would carry the industry forward.