COP26: in Côte d'Ivoire, the exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves is not unanimous
An offshore oil platform.
(Drawing).
Getty Images / HeliRy
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
At a time of COP 26 and global warming, should the vast hydrocarbon reserves discovered off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire be exploited?
The debate is not really open in Ivorian society, even if some NGOs take a stand.
Advertising
Read more
The choice is difficult between climatic hell and budget paradise.
The immense
reserves of hydrocarbons discovered off Abidjan
by the Italian Eni make salivate all those who dream of a Côte d'Ivoire suddenly become a tropical emirate.
The windfall is estimated at a minimum of 1.5 billion barrels of black gold and 2,000 billion cubic feet of gas.
Impressive figures which could boost the development of Côte d'Ivoire.
Can we blame a country for thinking about its development, especially on the continent which pollutes the planet the least?
For Ivorian decision-makers, the debate is settled: the oil windfall will be used to build the country.
But not everyone agrees.
"
We are in a century when there is no question of
celebrating
the discovery of oil,"
considers Caumouth Alban Koissi, representative in Côte d'Ivoire of the NGO Green Page international
. In a sunny country like Côte d'Ivoire, you have to think about alternative energies like solar. But we don't think about it, we are happy with oil. African countries are doing what they can too. We need to improve the standard of living of the populations, and that requires development. But we must do it with less polluting energies. And, since African states lack the financial strength to do this, help is needed from countries that got richer on oil
. "
Caumouth Alban Kouassi, who is
returning from Glasgow
, deplores that in terms of aid to the countries of the South, the great powers have not kept their past promises, nor even adopted the mechanism of compensation for loss and damage.
A principle of solidarity which, according to him, is sorely lacking.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
COP26
Ivory Coast
Environment
Oil