Spaces for Change | S4C hosted a side-event, “Promoting Inclusive Energy Transition in West Africa: Ensuring Equity for Oil-Rich Communities” on the sidelines of the Future of Energy Conference (FEC) 2024, held in Accra, Ghana, from August 26 to 28, 2024. Fifty-five stakeholders in the extractive industry in Ghana and Nigeria attended S4C’s side-event, including representatives of resource-rich communities in the two countries.
The side-event featured series of presentations and a panel discussion that examined the extent marginalized communities are actively involved in the energy transition discourse across the subregion. The panel discussion featuring representatives of Natural Resource Governance Institute, Publish What You Pay, Greencare Africa, and traditional leaders of oil-rich communities explored the role of, as well as the arrangements that have been made for marginalized populations that will be impacted by energy transition in the subregion. Most oil-rich communities across West Africa have borne the brunt of oil exploration and production for several decades. They are now overburdened with neglect, poverty, environmental devastation and loss of traditional livelihoods. Countries have derived enormous revenue earnings from the extraction of fossil fuels, and it is important that national transition plans ‘do not just discard the goose that laid the golden eggs’.
The panel discussion began with an inquiry into the concerns of oil-rich communities regarding the energy transition agenda. Topping the list include the lack of consultation with host communities, the fear of job losses and forced displacement from their ancestral lands. Oil-dependent communities, especially where artisanal refining is prevalent, are clamoring for alternative jobs and opportunities in the light of imminent job losses. The continent at large has what it takes to address these stated legitimate fears of communities. The subregion alone has significant renewable resources, but lacks technical capacity and funding to harness them into sustainable prosperity. Africa must develop the necessary technical expertise to fully advance its renewable energy capabilities.
Organized by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) in partnership with key stakeholders, including S4C, FEC 2024 conference provided a platform for global and regional experts in the extractive sector to explore strategies for leveraging Africa’s vast natural resource wealth for the sustainable social and economic development of the region. This year, stakeholders discussed Africa’s pivotal role in the global energy transition, especially harnessing the huge reserves of critical minerals for equitable energy access for millions of people without access to electricity. Participants emphasized the importance of developing an integrated regional value chain to support the continent’s energy transition while addressing the economic and environmental challenges posed by ongoing fossil fuel dependency.
As Africa stands at the crossroads of its energy future, FEC 2024 highlighted the critical need for a balanced approach that integrates economic growth, environmental sustainability, and community involvement. The discussions at the conference provided a roadmap for African countries to navigate the complex dynamics of the energy transition, ensuring that it leads to equitable outcomes for all stakeholders. African countries must also take steps to ensure that the voices of marginalized communities are integrated into the energy transition discourse. The conference underscored the need for innovation in Africa’s energy systems, particularly by engaging youth, women, and persons with disabilities, to foster a net-zero workforce.
