Energy transition concerns in Namibia
Mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo has expressed concerns over calls for an abrupt move away from fossil fuels. Speaking at a discussion hosted by the Energy Association of Namibia, Alweendo highlighted the pivotal role of critical minerals in the ongoing global energy transition. He further cautioned against overlooking the unique challenges faced by African nations during this transition, and urged for a balanced approach that considers the socioeconomic realities of the continent.
This comes hot on the heels of agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein advocating for access to clean fuels for poor communities.
On X - formerly known as Twitter - Schlettwein emphasised the detrimental effects of traditional fuel, noting that cooking with wood or charcoal emits more carbon dioxide than the total emissions of the global marine and aviation industries combined.
He underscored the urgent need for assistance to help these communities access clean fuels, highlighting the serious health impacts on women and children in particular.
In contrast, Alweendo pointed to the potential adverse effects an abrupt switch from fossil fuels could have on African economies and communities' access to energy, and stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy that harnesses the continent's natural resources to drive sustainable energy solutions while addressing energy poverty.
“We say that the transition must be just, so that it does not adversely affect the livelihoods in some societies. We are, however, concerned that there are still those who want us to embrace an energy transition road map that completely ignores our circumstances, a strategy that has the potential to leave us more impoverished.”
Strategic partnerships
Alweendo further called for international collaboration to ensure the sustainability of critical mineral supply chains, and highlighted Namibia's ambition to become a key player in this sector. He also outlined Namibia's vision of leveraging its abundant critical minerals to drive economic growth and development, emphasising the need for strategic partnerships with international stakeholders.
According to him, the push to immediately stop the use of fossil fuels shows a total lack of concern about the potential loss of economic opportunities and the difficulties in delivering reliable electricity to hundreds of millions of Africans.
“Think about the ensuing loss of the livelihood that most African countries have been carefully nurturing over the last few decades. Pushing Africa to move forward with an energy transition on any timetable other than our own is yet another example of the lack of appreciation the global community has for African priorities. We are not saying this to undermine the dedication of climate change activists, because the reality of climate change is undeniable. However, I believe that we can address climate change while simultaneously tackling energy poverty through the judicious use of our natural resources.
"With more than 600 million Africans lacking access to electricity, a comprehensive approach is imperative to overcome the current energy deficit,” the energy minister said.
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This comes hot on the heels of agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein advocating for access to clean fuels for poor communities.
On X - formerly known as Twitter - Schlettwein emphasised the detrimental effects of traditional fuel, noting that cooking with wood or charcoal emits more carbon dioxide than the total emissions of the global marine and aviation industries combined.
He underscored the urgent need for assistance to help these communities access clean fuels, highlighting the serious health impacts on women and children in particular.
In contrast, Alweendo pointed to the potential adverse effects an abrupt switch from fossil fuels could have on African economies and communities' access to energy, and stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy that harnesses the continent's natural resources to drive sustainable energy solutions while addressing energy poverty.
“We say that the transition must be just, so that it does not adversely affect the livelihoods in some societies. We are, however, concerned that there are still those who want us to embrace an energy transition road map that completely ignores our circumstances, a strategy that has the potential to leave us more impoverished.”
Strategic partnerships
Alweendo further called for international collaboration to ensure the sustainability of critical mineral supply chains, and highlighted Namibia's ambition to become a key player in this sector. He also outlined Namibia's vision of leveraging its abundant critical minerals to drive economic growth and development, emphasising the need for strategic partnerships with international stakeholders.
According to him, the push to immediately stop the use of fossil fuels shows a total lack of concern about the potential loss of economic opportunities and the difficulties in delivering reliable electricity to hundreds of millions of Africans.
“Think about the ensuing loss of the livelihood that most African countries have been carefully nurturing over the last few decades. Pushing Africa to move forward with an energy transition on any timetable other than our own is yet another example of the lack of appreciation the global community has for African priorities. We are not saying this to undermine the dedication of climate change activists, because the reality of climate change is undeniable. However, I believe that we can address climate change while simultaneously tackling energy poverty through the judicious use of our natural resources.
"With more than 600 million Africans lacking access to electricity, a comprehensive approach is imperative to overcome the current energy deficit,” the energy minister said.
[email protected]
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