Op-Ed
Editor, Last week , Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) organize a meeting with various civil society organization working to conserve and promote the environment and clean energy amidst the oil developments in the Albertine region. The meeting attracted over eight (8) organisations including Oil Refinery Residents Association (ORRA) , East African Crude Oil Pipeline Host Communities (EACOP HC) and others working in the promotion clean energy solutions and environmental conservation in the Albertine region.
The purpose of the meeting was to determine whether the oil is the critical mineral or note. During the meeting , the organization observe that although both minerals pose the same issues such as environmental , social and economic issues, the critical minerals plays a big role in promoting the just energy transition that supports the conservation of the environment, country’s economy and people ‘livelihood as well.
In the high level of the discussion on these Minerals, it was observed that oil is not a critical mineral because oil is formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms, primarily plants, over millions of years through a process of decomposition and geological pressure whereas the critical minerals are formed geological processes, primarily within Earth’s crust.
Further, the oil’s physical state exists as liquids at high standard temperatures, such as molten rocks which are a liquid at standard temperature and pressure. This liquid state is not atypical characteristics of the critical minerals.
Ugandans should know that at least the critical minerals such as copper, graphite cobalt and others are the best compared to oil and gas and gold and other minerals because critical minerals supports the environmental conservation, people’s livelihoods and country’s economy b while promoting the just energy transition. They are essential for a wide range of modern technologies and industries, including renewable energy, electronics, and national defense.
For Uganda to achieve the energy transition plan 2023 and universal access to electricity, they need to invest much in critical minerals that support the manufacturing of the solar products, batteries and another that are used to promote clean energy.
Therefore I call on the government of Uganda to turn the oil money to the extraction of the critical minerals because they play a big role in the promotion of the just energy transition..
By Kato Paul,
The Writer is a Research Associate and Environmental Activist.
Email: katop.adyeeri@gmail.com
