Africa risks surrendering control over its energy future if it assumes it can opt out of the global energy transition, Dr. Riverson Oppong, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), warned at a public lecture on energy sovereignty.

Speaking on the theme “Energy Sovereignty in the Context of the Global Energy Transition: What Africa Should Know,” Oppong delivered a sweeping analysis of how global energy systems have evolved, why hydrocarbons will remain central for decades and why Africa must chart its own transition pathway rather than copy foreign models.

Oppong traced energy history from coal in the 1860s through oil and gas, nuclear power and renewables, arguing that what is often called a “transition” has largely been an addition of energy sources rather than a complete replacement. Even energy efficiency gains, he said, have not reduced demand. Over two decades, global energy efficiency improved by 36%, yet energy demand and supply grew by 63%.
“That tells you energy became more affordable and more available,” he said. “People simply used more of it.”

Oppong said global demand will continue rising, driven by population growth and rising affluence. By 2050, the world is expected to have 2.5 billion more people, all demanding energy in some form. He illustrated the point with a personal anecdote, contrasting his father’s bicycle commute decades ago with today’s widespread reliance on cars, ride-hailing services and air travel.

At the same time, he said, oil and gas are becoming harder and more expensive to produce, especially for African producers moving offshore and into ultra-deepwater fields. Production costs in Ghana, he noted, are far higher than in the Middle East, where countries can remain profitable even at $20 per barrel.

Despite climate pressures, Oppong argued that hydrocarbons still dominate the global energy mix. China derives about 70% of its energy from hydrocarbons, Japan about 77%, while the United States and the United Kingdom also remain heavily dependent on oil, gas and coal even as they expand renewables.

“Never in human history have we faced a situation where demand is rising, supply is challenged and we are surrounded by the term ‘energy transition,’” he said.

Oppong stressed that hydrocarbons are not only about power generation and transportation. Oil and gas remain essential feedstocks for cement, steel, plastics, petrochemicals and fertilizers — the four pillars of industrial civilization, in his words. Many heavy industries still lack viable low-emission alternatives, making a complete exit from hydrocarbons unrealistic in the near term.

He highlighted carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a critical bridge technology, noting it has long been used in enhanced oil recovery and is now central to net-zero strategies. Methane reduction, he added, is equally urgent, as methane is far more potent than carbon dioxide and closely linked to public health impacts from air pollution and unsafe cooking practices.

Turning to Africa, Oppong said the continent’s energy debate must center on access, affordability and availability. He challenged official figures that estimate 600 million Africans lack electricity access, suggesting the true number is closer to 750 million, while about 40% of sub-Saharan Africans lack access to clean cooking fuels. Nearly 815,000 premature deaths each year are linked to household air pollution, he said.

Using Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa as case studies, Oppong showed how energy security varies widely across countries. Ghana, he said, performs relatively well across accessibility, availability and affordability, while Nigeria struggles with availability despite large installed capacity due to grid constraints and population pressure. “This is why copy-and-paste energy transition roadmaps don’t work,” he said. “Every country has its own peculiar problem.”

Oppong also warned about emerging global policies such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which he said could raise costs for African exporters and weaken competitiveness if goods are produced using carbon-intensive energy. Without

investment in cleaner production, Africa risks being locked out of future markets, he said.

To protect energy sovereignty, Oppong advocated domestic market obligation policies, especially for natural gas, to support local power generation and industrialization rather than exporting raw resources. He described it as “economically insane” for countries to export crude oil cheaply and import refined fuels at much higher prices.

He urged African governments to invest in local refining, manufacturing and value addition, while managing the volatility of petroleum revenues. Heavy dependence on oil income, he said, has destabilized budgets in countries such as Angola and Venezuela during price downturns.

Oppong concluded by calling for a balanced energy mix that includes renewables, gas, hydro, nuclear and emerging technologies such as hydrogen, alongside electric vehicles and battery manufacturing using Africa’s mineral resources.

“No one has all the answers,” he said. “But Africa must stop being a bystander. Energy sovereignty starts with understanding our own problems and designing solutions that work for us.”

By Kingsley Asiedu