German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday called for closer co-operation between the EU and African countries on renewable energy and green hydrogen production.
In a speech at the German-African Investment Summit in Berlin, Scholz said European countries should support developing countries in Africa in finding climate-friendly energy solutions. He noted:
“If they chose the same development path that we took in Europe or North America around 150 years ago with oil, coal and gas, then our planet will not be able to cope with it.”
According to the German Chancellor, closer co-operation between the EU and African countries can promote social and economic development while protecting the environment and climate. He noted, adding that this collaboration will be for the benefit of both sides:
“Renewable energy, climate-friendly technologies, building a hydrogen economy across countries and continents, economic diversification, all of these would provide incredible potential for closer cooperation between us.”
Scholz emphasised the importance Germany places on Africa as part of its energy transition policy and climate protection goals. He said:
“We aim for achieving climate neutrality by 2045, and for that goal Germany will need large amounts of green hydrogen, we will import a large part of it from Africa among other places. Many African countries have significantly greater potential than we do when it comes to renewable energies and for the competitive production of hydrogen. I am convinced that there are great opportunities here to expand cooperation between German and African companies.”
Scholz said Germany would provide an additional four billion euros ($4.4bn) until 2030 to support investments under the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative.
The investment summit was also attended by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, Senegalese President Macky Sall, President Alassane Ouattara of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.
On Monday, senior representatives from more than a dozen African countries will meet with Scholz and European officials at the “G-20 Compact with Africa” conference, which aims to encourage foreign private investment in African countries.
