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Africa must industrialise — via fossil fuels if need be

Peter Orawo

16 August 2005 | EN

I am writing in response to the publication of your recent news focus on Climate Change in Africa.

The technology needed to generate renewable energy (such as wind and solar energies) has not been sufficiently developed to bring down the cost of using them.

To develop industrially, Africa must be allowed to use fossil fuels. Otherwise, goods produced on the continent using renewable energies will not be competitively priced for the global market.

What Africa needs most is trade. Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is not Africa's priority at the moment.

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