I want to be clear: Africa does not need social programs, even educational programs, that come in the form of aid packages. What's more, offering Africa aid packages to compensate for a halt or slow-down of oil and gas operations will not do Africans any good. I tried to make that point recently during a friendly debate with Prof. Patrick Bond, a very bright man and a distinguished professor at the University of the Western Cape School of Government. He argued that Africa should keep all of its petroleum resources in the ground to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and prevent further climate change. Developed nations, the professor continued, should compensate Africa for that sacrifice, and Africa could use that money to develop other opportunities. No. This is not the time for Africa to be calling for more aid. Africa has been receiving aid for nearly six decades, and what good has it done? We still don't have enough jobs. … [Read more...] about African Energy Chamber: African Lives Matter, Too. Energy Policy Decisions Should Consider Their Needs
Hydrocarbons fossil fuels
Vietnam makes a big push into renewable energy
The conclusion of the draft of the Eighth National Power Master Plan to be submitted soon by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to the Prime Minister includes notable points. They are bigger scale of wind and solar power development, no new coal-fired plants during 2026-2030, elimination of 9.5GW generated from imported coal-fired power plants and delay of 7.6GW of coal-fired power until after 2030-2035, including Quynh Lap 1 and 2 projects whose total capacity is 2,400MW. The southern and central regions will focus on renewable energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG) while imported coal-fired power will be developed mostly in the north. After 2025, power transmission lines from the south central region to the north region will be installed and the transition to sustainable energy will be encouraged. … [Read more...] about Vietnam makes a big push into renewable energy
Not to put too fine a point on it, fine dust kills
The amount of gasoline consumed by 3.5 million cars and 50 million motorbikes in Vietnam is less than half of the amount of charcoal burned each year; and the ash content in coal is several thousand times higher than in gasoline. The scale of burning straw in the field or or honeycomb coal is not almost insignificant compared to the burning of fossil fuels. … [Read more...] about Not to put too fine a point on it, fine dust kills
Nuclear power not under consideration for Vietnam at least for 10 more years
According to the Energy Institute, if Vietnam relies on certain types of fuel when developing its electricity generation system, it will face problems when unexpected events occur, including fuel price fluctuations, political uncertainties and supply cost increases. … [Read more...] about Nuclear power not under consideration for Vietnam at least for 10 more years
Global population hit by extreme drought set to double
Even under a scenario of moderate decline in greenhouse gas emissions, land area scorched by extreme to exceptional drought conditions increases from three to seven percent, while the population at risk jumps from 230 million to about 500 million, they reported Monday in Nature Climate Change. … [Read more...] about Global population hit by extreme drought set to double