Africa should adopt the 10-point plan by IEA to reduce oil and fossil fuel consumption

• Africa is facing a dilemma between mining fossil fuels and adopting cleaner sources of energy
• Due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, oil prices could jump even further than the US$129 a barrel
• The IEA 10-point plan will open up job creation, skills transfer, technological development opportunities and new industries such as electric mobility

Africa is facing a dilemma between mining fossil fuels and adopting cleaner sources of energy. On one side, fossil fuels contribute immensely to the gross domestic products of most nations in the continent and stopping the mining of oil looks like “self-sabotage”. On the other hand, the world is experiencing harsh weather conditions due to climate change caused by the mining of these fossil fuels. There is a colossal force to mitigate and eventually halt these challenges.

How are African governments manoeuvering past this conundrum?

The decision appears like a mountain to climb, considering Africa is discovering new oil mines by day. The exploitation of these fossil fuels is still reporting an upward trend.

Read: Dubai: Renewable energy bags higher FDI transcending oil, coal and gas

Energy transition to cleaner sources also calls for heavy funding lacking in the continent, making the whole process complicated. However, African nations could adopt the ten-point plan by the International Energy Agency to combat two challenges:

• Reducing air pollution in cities in Africa
• Dealing with the everyday increase in oil prices since the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

In an attempt to address an impending international energy crisis caused by the Russian-Ukrainian war, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has developed an IEA 10-point plan to reduce global oil demand by about 2.7 million oil barrels per day (bpd) in four months. The plan will also promote the sustainable use of oil in the long run.

Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, analysts predict that the oil price could pump even further than the US$129 a barrel skyrocketing experienced in March 2022, adversely impacting consumers globally. To mitigate the negative impact felt in the short term and ensure consumption of oil declines as aligned with the COP26 net-zero emission by 2050 target, the IEA has proposed a ten-point plan to reduce global oil demand.

Read: Africa: Financing renewable energy economies

The proposals for the 10-point plan include:

1. Speed limit reduction on highways by at least 10 kilometres per hour. This would save about 290,000 barrels per day of cars’ oil and an additional 140 000 barrels per day from trucks.
2. Working from home for about three days a week where possible. One day a week would save about 170,000 barrels per day; three days save over 500,000 barrels per day.
3. Introduction of car-free Sundays in major cities, a development that would save 95,000 barrels per day and about 2,850,000 barrels a month.
4. Making public transport cheaper and incentivizing micromobility, walking, and cycling could save around 330,000 barrels per day.
5. Alternate the access of private cars to roads in large cities worldwide could reduce consumption by about 210,000 barrels per day.
6. Increasing car-sharing could reduce fuel use to save about 470,000 barrels per day.
7. Promoting efficient driving of freight trucks and delivery of goods to save some 320,000 barrels per day.
8. Use of high-speed night trains instead of planes where possible, which could over 40,000 barrels per day.
9. Avoid business air travel where alternative options exist to save around 260,000 barrels per day.
10. Reinforcing the adoption of electric cars and more efficient automobiles to save about 100,000 barrels per day.

The IEA states that the above measures will have a more significant effect if adopted in part or whole by both developed markets and emerging economies.

“These efforts would reduce the price pain being felt by consumers worldwide, lessen the economic damage, shrink Russia’s hydrocarbon revenues, and help move oil demand towards a more sustainable pathway,” adds the IEA.

In addition to oil consumption reduction, the plan will open up job creation, skills transfer, technological development opportunities and new industries such as electric mobility.

About the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The IEA’s commitment is to shape a secure and sustainable energy future worldwide. The agency’s work revolves around various programmes and initiatives, helping to ensure energy security, tracking clean energy transitions, collecting data, and providing training on energy sources around the world. One of the ways IEA is ensuring energy sustainability in the future is through the IEA 10-point plan.

Read: Russia oil chaos should push Africa to be energy self-reliant