African Energy Event Erupts in Disagreement Over Transition Timelines
In a blunt speech at Africa Oil Week, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile stirred the pot, urging African nations to defy the world and dictate their own rules for switching to cleaner energy. Mashatile, ignoring global concerns about carbon emissions, declared, “We’ll decide when and how to change – not anyone else.”
His defiant speech on the event’s opening day, October 13, left many aghast as he defiantly proclaimed, “We won’t be bullied into adopting someone else’s timeline. We’re putting our needs first, and we’ll keep our lights on throughout the transition.”
Mashatile’s audacious stand pushed for the continued exploitation of Africa’s oil and gas resources, proclaiming, “Mineral resources are our lifeline for economic growth.” In doing so, he disregarded mounting global pressure to reduce carbon emissions and tread towards a greener future.
