{"id":1003,"date":"2021-09-24T13:59:58","date_gmt":"2021-09-24T13:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/energycitizens.org\/?p=1003"},"modified":"2022-03-04T20:13:33","modified_gmt":"2022-03-04T20:13:33","slug":"developing-nations-pushback-on-anti-oil-gas-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energycitizens.org\/es\/news\/developing-nations-pushback-on-anti-oil-gas-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Las naciones en desarrollo rechazan la presi\u00f3n contra el petr\u00f3leo y el gas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the U.N.\u2019s General Assembly meeting this week, I wanted to flag several comments from leaders in developing countries pushing back against recent calls to end new natural gas and oil development, or to restrict bilateral and multilateral funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari<\/a> has warned \u201cthe move towards defunding of natural gas projects\u2026would put countries, such as ours, in a very dire situation and make the [energy] transition extremely difficult for us.\u201d Despite warning like this, anti-natural gas rhetoric has continued from some policymakers in the developed world, including the UN Secretary General who has said he\u2019d<\/a> \u201cwelcome countries that have pledged to end fossil fuel finance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natural gas is simultaneously lifting millions out of energy poverty and helping to reduce<\/strong> the growth of global CO2<\/sub> emissions. Instead of pressuring developing countries to expand intermittent renewable energy while simultaneously working to end funding for most sources of dispatchable generation, activists should recognize natural gas enables the expansion<\/a> of renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaders In Developing Nations Resist Restrictions On New Natural Gas And Oil Development<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equatorial Guinea\u2019s Energy Minister,<\/strong> Gabriel Mbega Obiang Lima<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> \u201cWe must protect the environment, but also create jobs for young people. Hydrocarbon reserves are a blessing, we will not apologize for using them, especially gas, which can enable us to electrify the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigeria\u2019s Vice President, Yemi <\/strong>Osinbajo<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> \u201cCurbing natural gas investments in Africa will do little to limit carbon emissions globally but much to hurt the continent\u2019s economic prospects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liberia\u2019s former Minister of Public Works, <\/strong>Gyude Moore<\/strong><\/a>: <\/strong>\u201cAfrican countries can\u2019t afford to grow their economies and lift their people\u2019s incomes without relying on at least some fossil fuels \u2014 and it\u2019s unfair and ahistorical for the West to ask them to do so\u2026. Keeping Africa poor to fight climate change will do nothing to help the people most affected by it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India\u2019s Prime Minister, <\/strong>Narendra Modi<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> \u201cNatural gas is the next-generation fossil fuel, cheaper and less polluting\u2026Efforts must be made to increase natural gas production whole also creating import infrastructure to meet the growing domestic demand\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade,<\/strong> Nguyen Hong Dien<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> \u201cVietnam believes that LNG plays an important role in helping the world solve the problem of climate change.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigeria\u2019s Environment Minister, <\/strong>Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar:<\/strong><\/a> \u201cThe defunding of gas projects by most financing organizations is a threat to achieving a global energy transition that is equitable, inclusive, and just, leaving no one behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South African\u2019s Minister of Mineral Resources,<\/strong> Gwede Mantashe<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> \u201cSometimes when you are a weaker economy you get pushed to do things that are almost like self-destruction. We are resisting that, we will do what we can do so that we give electricity to our people at an affordable price, and transition from high emissions to low emissions over a period.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n