Russia's Role in Future of Africa's Energy Sector is 'Huge & Massive:' African Energy Chamber Chief

The Russia's role in the future of Africa's energy sector is "huge and massive," Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber NJ Ayuk told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of the REW, adding that there are going to be "really big exchanges" between Russia and the continent in this field.

"Very big, huge and massive. [...] Russia is a big, big gas producer working with the Gas Exporting Countries Forum that most African countries are part of. You're going to see some really big exchanges between Russians and Africans in that. We just have to drive it forward. We have to be conscious. We have to really pull, move, and we need to put action to our words. And that's why I'm happy to be here, because it's the second time I've been here in almost three months," Ayuk said.

Explaining his statement about the importance of Russian contribution to the continent's energy sector, the executive chairman highlighted the state's energy infrastructure and how the country "powered agriculture," using its natural gas.

"And I'll tell you why. Russia went from a net importer of grain to be a net exporter of grain. What did they do? They use their natural gas. They produced urea, ammonia NPK, and fertilizer plants. They powered agriculture so they could feed themselves. They also piped gas around the country, so they provided electricity among themselves. They use pipelines to connect because you need energy infrastructure," he underlined.

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In addition, Ayuk emphasized that the African states could replicate "what Russia has been able to do" as well as "use the country's equipment," noting that the continent is "a big market."

Moreover, the chairman underscored that it is necessary to develop Russia-Africa partnership in fields of technical skills, the know-how and finance.

"There is already big political support for engagement with Russia. Now, we need to close that gap by looking at financial, technical skills and the know-how to be able to really drive that [exchanges between Russians and Africans]," Ayuk stressed.

He noted that "gas is going to define Africa in the next 50 years," however it is essential to "put action into [the] words" in order to enhance Russia-Africa engagements as ordinary people "are expecting more" from them.

"Gas is going to define Africa in the next 50 years. [...] But we need to put action into our words because everyday people in Russia, in Africa, are expecting more from us. The industry has changed. It can't be the industry of the elites. It has to be the industry where people do matter. And that's where we need to drive this," the chairman noted.

Earlier, Ayuk revealed that Russian companies are going to join multimillion-dollar projects to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure across Africa.