AFRICA/ALGERIA - African Energy Committee begins work: “Energy is at the heart of economic development in Africa, a continent that is rich in resources, but poor in energy consummation.”

Argel (Agenzia Fides) - “Our continent now holds the record for the highest increase in oil production in its history, however at the same time, it has one of the lowest percentiles in the world of energy consumption,” says Chakib Khelili, Minister of Energy in Algeria and acting President of OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), as the African Energy Committee (AFREC, part of the African Union) begins its work. On February 17, 30 African energy ministers met in Algeria’s capital to discuss the plan of action for AFREC, approval of the statutes, and designation of a director and members of administrative council.
The meeting marked the official founding of AFREC, after what had been a sort of limbo for 6 years. The organisation had begun in Lusaka (Zambia) in April 2001, during the 37th Assembly of the Heads of State of the African Union (OUA, later becoming UA), however it was unable to being activities without the minimal approval of 15 countries. Of the 53 African countries in the African Union (all the African states except Morocco), 24 have been incorporated into the Committee: Algeria, Angola, Libya, Mozambique, Camoro, Rwanda, Senegal, Egypt, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Tunisia, Sudan, Zambia, Niger, Kenya, Burundi, Namibia, Gambia, Congo, Togo, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Saharoui Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
The need increases for governments and their people to coordinate common energy among the African nations. The recent interruptions in electrical energy in South Africa are a clear reason for alarm for the continent, that is trying to continue making economic progress, making use of its own resources. “Energy is at the heart of economic development in Africa, a continent that is rich in resources, but poor in energy consumption,” the Algerian Minister said, recalling as well, the fact that the energy crisis is also at the centre of the geo-political goals worldwide. The continent, therefore, cannot be excluded from the world energy politics. One of the paths to be followed, the Minister suggested, is that of collaboration with Latin America, within the context of the Conference of Ministers of Energy of Africa and Latin America (AFROLAC) that will be celebrated in Cancun (Mexico) on April 3. The first meeting of AFRILAC was held in Nigeria in 2004. Africa and the Latin American countries like Brazil have the possibility of sharing wealth and resources, not only in the area of oil, but also through carbonates, alternative means of energy, and even with plans for using nuclear energy.
AFREC, whose seat is in Algeria, has among its objectives: a plan for energy development in Africa, the development of programs of assistance and formation, the promotion of common projects in the energy field, and the creation of a database on questions regarding African energy means. Among the priorities for the UA is the construction of a trans-Saharan gas duct between Nigeria and Algeria (TGSP) and the recovery of Inga, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for the production of electric energy.
Africa holds 7.2% of oil reserves in the world, 7.3% of gas, 6% of carbon and it supplies 12% of the world’s oil production with an average of 10 million barrels a day or 500 million tons a year. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 18/2/2008 righe 43, parole 537)