7 min

by Ayele Addis Ambelu
“15th German Africa Energy Summit” Germany; Held in Hamburg. It is said that this conference, attended by various African countries, including Ethiopia, created a convenient opportunity for energy suppliers in Germany to have a close discussion.

Hamburg Reitbrook Eon Hansewerk Elektrolyse

“Africa plays a key role in solving Europe’s energy crisis.”
“15th German Africa Energy Summit” Germany; Held in Hamburg. It is said that this conference, which was at various African countries, including Ethiopia, created a convenient opportunity for energy suppliers in Germany to have a close discussion. At the meeting, issues that could be of mutual benefit to Germany and Africa were discussed.

It has also been revealed that German companies will financially support African producers interested in producing hydrogen energy and supplying it to the European market. Due to the sanctions imposed on Russia due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Europeans need to find an alternative energy source to the oil they imported from Russia. In the same week, in the meeting held by the European ministers, they passed a new sanctions decision to block more than two-thirds of the oil imported from the Russian sea.

Ndiarka Mboji, French branch-born, is the founder and CEO of Cowry Energy, a company headquartered in Berlin, Germany. They say the war in Ukraine and the European sanctions have made the Europeans look for an alternative force.

H2 Hydrogen Molekule Symbolbild
“As a result of the war in Ukraine, it can be seen that we need to consolidate our energy supply sources. If we look at Africa’s potential natural resources like natural gas, that is the way to change. We can also see its importance in Africa.”

Ndiarka Mboji added: “Africa will play a key role in solving Europe’s energy crisis.” In particular, natural gas, which is packed in the African soil, “is not so easily seen,” he said.

This “German Africa Energy Summit,” which brings together energy-hungry Germany and Africa in need of financial support, comes after Germany’s sympathetic government, Olaf Scholtz, recently visited Africa and signed an agreement to support building the necessary infrastructure to export oil and gas to Europe.

Despite Germany’s plans to import large-scale hydrogen energy from Africa, more than half of Africa’s population lacks access to clean energy sources. However, many residents cut down forests to find a source of energy. They also drive home necessary inputs for biomass, such as charcoal. For example, in Ethiopia, 95 percent of residents rely on biomass resources as their energy source. This will directly impact the country’s production, said the Minister of Water and Energy of Ethiopia, State Sultan Wali, when asked by Deutsche Welle. However, he said during the interview that Ethiopia is trying to shift its energy source from hydroelectricity to renewable energy sources.

Hamburg Bergedorf Energiecampus CC4E
“Currently, we are doing a lot in the power supply sector. In particular, besides making our energy source dependent only on hydropower, which is available in water, from the sun, from the wind Through the blending of energy sources from the earth and other renewable energy sources. Therefore, it is an essential conference for us to have a robust dialogue with public institutions.

That’s not all. According to the Minister of State: “Africans cannot sustain such projects alone. They also need financial support from Germany and other rich Western countries.

Europe, which has entered into an energy supply crisis, passed a decision last month to import 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen energy, mainly from Africa. It is also revealed that Ethiopia has lost hope of producing hydrogen energy from its abundant groundwater and negotiating with financial backers. Groundwater and gas reserves are plentiful in Ethiopia’s Somali, Ogaden, and other areas.

African Union Commissioner for Energy and Infrastructure: Abu Zaid asserted that Europe needs a strong partnership with Africa to alleviate energy hunger.

“Until all of us are safe, Europe will not be safe. European security is no longer about weapons. It is about crude oil, energy supply, and food. Therefore, no one in Europe can be guaranteed until all of us are safe.”

The African Energy Council (AEC) is a non-governmental organization established to facilitate Germany’s African partnership. He emphasized that Africa needs creative and integrated solutions to end energy poverty by 2030, according to the Gregorian calendar. In this regard, Ethiopia must produce trained professionals to help build and market its potential underground resources. Its young people want to investigate the nature and benefits of this profoundly vital energy source for Europe in universities and institutions of the Western world.

Africa needs to change the disproportionate trade of buying a whole sack of raw cocoa for the foreign exchange it earns, like acknowledging just one nut of chocolate chip cookies. To do that, it is necessary to understand how much we can benefit from the energy source that Europe needs now. Facilitating a way for Europe and Africa to benefit from each other is beneficial for both.