Aluwani Museisi: A Just Energy Transition Cannot Be Built on Unemployment

As African energy leaders gathered in Cape Town for African Energy Week, Aluwani Museisi wrote that, with South Africa’s official unemployment rate above 30%, oil and gas should no longer be treated as a problem to manage rather than an opportunity to shape. Museisi argues that the upstream oil and gas industry can drive investment and job creation in engineering, maritime logistics, ports, and manufacturing. Natural gas can also complement renewable energy when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing, while reducing dependence on imported fuels. The article calls for a responsible, investment-driven transition, subject to rigorous environmental assessments and transparent regulation.