Africa: Tony Blair Says Africa Can't Ignore Gas Reserves - - but Science Says We've Run Out of Time

6 April 2025
Daily Maverick (Johannesburg)

Minerals and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, former UK prime minister Tony Blair and the African Union think Africa should have its turn to exploit fossil fuels. But does this make sense economically, or scientifically? Daily Maverick breaks it down.

Minerals and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, former UK prime minister Tony Blair and the African Union think Africa should have its turn to exploit fossil fuels. But does this make sense economically, or scientifically? Daily Maverick breaks it down.

Last week, BusinessDay reported that former UK prime minister Tony Blair said at the 2025 Standard Bank African Markets Conference that developing nations, like those in Africa - which have contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions - should not be tied down by decarbonisation goals, and should not ignore their gas reserves.

"Ultimately, the solutions to climate change are not going to come from believing we can strike down fossil fuels," Blair was quoted saying.

Blair did acknowledge Africa's potential in renewables, saying "the immediate priority for Africa is to develop. And to develop, you need energy. I am in favour of Africa doing everything it can around renewable energy, and it has a lot of potential in that space."

However, he also said that "you can't say to an African country that has significant gas reserves to ignore those reserves and not develop those".

Blair added: "My view on climate change... is that it is time...

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