23 June 2023

Press Release: Don’t Gas Africa reacts to Senegal’s climate finance deal

Campaign group Don’t Gas Africa has raised concerns about the $2.5 billion deal signed yesterday by Senegal at the Summit for New Global Financing Pact taking place in Paris. France.

The Senegal deal, called the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), brings together Senegal, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union in a pact to boost the West African country’s investment in renewable energy.

While this partnership is commendable, we find that Clause 7 of JETP is suspect and detrimental to global efforts to transition from fossil fuels to clean and sustainable energy forms.

The specific clause reads: “Senegal intends to use its natural gas resources as a transitional energy in the perspective of a low-carbon and climate change resilient socio-economic development leading to a significant decrease in emissions compared to the baseline scenario (BAU) of the energy sector as defined in the 2020 NDC, through a gradual phase- out of heavy fuel oils.”

Consequently, we wish to say as follows:

Bhekumuzi Dean Bhebhe, a campaigner at Don’t Gas Africa:

“This is unacceptable. If implemented in the current design, the deal will lock Senegal in a trap of fossil-fuel dependence. Claiming to use natural gas as a “transitional fuel” is shocking. Gas is not a “transition” fuel. Gas is not green. Gas is not clean.’’

“It is vital that Senegal does not get shackled to outdated fossil fuel infrastructure. This will be a waste of investment. Instead, we need to pump more money into renewables as the energy of the future.’’

Mohamed Adow of Power Shift Africa, said:

‘‘This is an outrageous position coming from a former colonial master and shows how

Macron is using his economic might to dictate energy policies in Africa for the benefit of the

West. Rather than being Europe’s gas station, Africa needs investments to facilitate its transition to renewables. Africa did not use landline phone technology to transition to mobile technology. Instead, it leapfrogged that old technology. Europeans burning gas, whether in Europe or elsewhere in the world, will only accelerate the climate crisis in Africa. What Africa needs is Europe to decarbonise immediately. France may no longer be a colonial master, but Macron’s actions show that he continues to pull strings in Africa from Paris.’’

About DGA

DGA is a campaign led by African civil society to rid the continent of fossil gas production. The campaign pushes for energy equity and an end to energy apartheid that has left 600 million Africans without access to modern, clean renewable energy. Supported by allies across the world, DGA works to compel governments to serve interests of the people rather than corporate fossil fuel polluters.

ENDS