African nations must tread carefully on energy transition to avoid driving the continent further into poverty, National Oil Corporation chairman Kiraitu Murungi has said.

Murungi said oil and gas remain the most lucrative natural resource in Africa, and the continent needs it to solve its basic developmental needs.

“Africa is not yet industrialized. Our contribution to global greenhouse gases emissions is negligible– just 3 per cent of the global total. Scientists have told us that forests are carbon sinks which absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide which is a major greenhouse gas. Africa is still home to some thick forests which can absorb the emissions and serve as a set-off for the carbon released into the atmosphere by our fossil fuels,” he said.

The former Energy minister said the commerciality of oil reserves in the Lokichar basin in Turkana had been proven and the government was setting up the production system.

“Would it now be fair to be told that because of the energy transition, we should not extract our own oil in Turkana to pay our external debts, buy food and medicine and take our children to school?”

“Each country is unique. The transition to clean energy should take into account the level of social development and the specific concrete realities of each country. We should use all the natural resources available to us including fossil fuels for the benefit of our people. In addition to expanding our renewable energy sources, we should work with Tullow Oil in Turkana to extract our oil to pay external debts and fight poverty,” he said.