Europe greenwashing with north Africa’s renewable energy, report says
Guardian2 days
Report: EU Green Energy Push Degrading North Africa
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The Facts
According to a Greenpeace report released Wednesday, European renewable energy investments across North Africa primarily benefit European economies while leaving local populations dependent on fossil fuels. Morocco and Egypt remain net importers of fossil fuels despite exporting clean energy to Europe.
Citing the Ukraine war and Russia cutting off gas to Europe as reasons, the report claimed that European energy companies invested billions in Egyptian gas reserves as an alternative supply source, leading to soil erosion and water contamination.
The report found that Egypt signed a $40B investment deal last February with European companies for renewable energy and green hydrogen exports, yet simultaneously increased domestic use of toxic Mazut fuel to free up more gas for European export. Germany alone is investing $10B for a "green ammonia project."
The Spin
Narrative A
Rich European nations claim to champion a green Earth, yet they pillage third-world countries like Morocco and Egypt, extracting oil, gas, and crops while degrading ecosystems and deepening inequality. It's nonsensical to burn boatloads of fossil fuels in one part of the Earth to burn less in another. This exploitation agenda exports environmental ruin, entrenches dependency, and mocks true sustainability, all under the guise of progress.
Narrative B
Europe isn't exploiting Africa but integrating it into a global climate fight, as shown by the Africa-Europe Green Energy Initiative. Projects like Morocco's hydrogen plant and solar plants in the Ivory Coast and Niger boost energy access and sustainability, not dependency. EU investments diversify energy, cut emissions, and share benefits, aligning with a fair, secure transition — proving collaboration, not pillage, drives this effort.
