A key energy transition meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, highlighted Africa's energy security and future, alongside the global push to accelerate an equitable and affordable transition to renewable energy.
The G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) held its second meeting from April 30 to May 2, with South Africa, the host country, urging G20 nations to join forces to bolster energy security across the African continent and in developing nations.
These discussions come at a pivotal moment, as countries strive to balance decarbonization goals with the pressing energy needs, especially in Africa -- a continent rich in natural resources, yet still grappling with widespread poverty, where hundreds of millions live without electricity.
"It's important that we are able to manage this transition in a manner that takes into account our own domestic conditions. You need to balance that with the need to ensure that you don't stifle the ability of the economy to grow and get more and more people into employment, re-skill people, ensure that there's upward social economic ability of citizens of our respective countries," said Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, South African Electricity and Energy Minister.
South Africa also called for global cooperation to accelerate a fair and affordable transition to renewable energy at the meeting.
Africa relies heavily on fossil fuels, and the challenge of its transition lies in convincing wealthier nations to allocate necessary funding -- an issue that has already sparked debate among G20 members.
"The financing is important, of that infrastructure. Don't punish poor countries. Accept that the western and more developed countries have got an obligation to help poor countries. So that's really how we fashioned the conversation and I'm confident we're going to find each other," Ramokgopa said.
Fortunately, leading efforts are already underway. The European Union has pledged 4.4 billion euros (about 5 billion U.S. dollars) to South Africa's clean energy sector, with a focus on developing green hydrogen -- a key industry that could bring significant economic benefits.
China has also joined efforts, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Africa to explore nuclear-powered small modular reactors (SMRs) -- a move expected to strengthen South Africa's energy capacity, address its declining energy security, and support its transition to a more reliable and sustainable energy system.
"The focus on SMR is important for us and the cooperation with China is critical. Of course China has gone on to exploit that technology and we want to sort of co-create with China and hence the MoU," said Subesh Pillay, interim director-general of the South African Electricity and Energy Ministry.
G20 meeting in Cape Town places Africa’s energy security at forefront of global transition efforts
G20 meeting in Cape Town places Africa’s energy security at forefront of global transition efforts
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, has shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing serious concern about and firm opposition to the U.S. unilateral military operations in Venezuela.
The U.S. actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter, constituting an extremely dangerous precedent against peace and regional security, according to the statement.
In expressing profound concern and firm rejection, the six countries stressed in the statement that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, and through dialogue, negotiation and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.
Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity, according to the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as a violation of international law, adding that the Spanish government always advocates and defends international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Addressing a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace, he expressed his firm opposition to the use of force, which is an unshakable principle.
Any aggression against Venezuela shall be regarded as an attack against all CELAC member states, and nations must collectively oppose it, he stressed.
The South African government denounced the U.S. attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law, according to a statement released on Sunday.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis, the statement said.
South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene a session to address this situation, according to the statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said what happened in Venezuela demonstrates that international law and the UN Charter are losing their practical effectiveness.
U.S. military action against Venezuela marks a dangerous precedent, as similar actions could be taken against any other nations, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministries of Namibia, Singapore, Oman and Pakistan also issued statements on the same day, expressing grave concern over U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
They emphasized the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter while respecting Venezuela's sovereignty.
They also called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
U.S. move against Venezuela sparks condemnation, concerns worldwide
