New Attack on Africa’s Oil and Gas Industry
In a new attack on the African oil and gas industry, Extinction Rebellion criticized South Africa for its efforts to develop oil and gas exploration in its offshore market. An article published this week by Moraig Peden, spokesperson for the group, claims that new offshore oil and gas projects directly contradict the country’s climate commitments—even though operators have obtained the necessary environmental approvals to explore offshore reserves.
Representing the voice of Africa’s energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) condemns this article as another blatant attack, not just on Africa’s energy industry, but on the entire population. Oil and gas will play a fundamental role in reducing energy poverty in Africa, and the AEC—working with the oil industry and African communities—will continue to advocate for offshore exploration and production.
Environmental Groups Accused of Violence
Groups like Extinction Rebellion have not stopped targeting the industry, often resorting to violent and disruptive measures to express their bias and fierce opposition. Instead of peaceful protests, foreign-funded environmental groups have turned to sabotage in the name of climate activism. For example, activists from Shut the Systemsabotaged internet cables in London in early 2025. Following the act, the group declared its commitment to a campaign of sabotage targeting the tools, property, and machinery of those most responsible for climate change. This is viewed as a direct attack on the industry.
Another group, Just Stop Oil, has also remained relentless. Their actions include:
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Throwing soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting
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Throwing paint on Stonehenge
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Gluing activists to roads to block traffic
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Tying themselves to goalposts during sports events
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Blocking ten key oil facilities across England in 2022
Just Stop Oil protesters were sentenced to several years in prison in 2024 for blocking multiple intersections on the M25 highway. In the U.S., Greenpeace was ordered to pay $660 million in damages in 2025 for sabotaging the Dakota Access Pipeline. The group has also occupied coal plants and blocked coal shipments in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. But its attacks on the African industry may prove the most disruptive.
Greenpeace’s Opposition to African Energy Projects
Greenpeace strongly opposes oil and gas exploration in Africa by companies such as Shell, Meren Energy (formerly Africa Oil Corp), and TotalEnergies, among others. These companies have received environmental approvals and/or funding for their offshore activities, but Greenpeace continues to launch attacks. It has challenged Shell’s exploration rights in court and actively solicits donations to fund its anti-oil campaigns.
AEC’s Response and Commitment
“We expected these attacks ahead of the next edition of AEW: Invest in African Energies,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “It’s always the same pattern. We denounce the violence of Extinction Rebellion. We hope there will be a serious conversation about Africans’ right to drill and provide energy to the millions without electricity or clean cooking solutions. The friendship between the AEC and the African oil and gas industry will continue fighting for Africa. We will continue fighting to make energy poverty a thing of the past. We will continue fighting for future generations.”
Ayuk added that Moraig Peden “clearly does not understand the African context.” If she truly knew what people go through daily in Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, and other countries, she wouldn’t push such a radical environmental agenda that undermines Africa’s energy development.
It’s important to remember:
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Over 600 million Africans lack access to electricity
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Over 900 million lack access to clean cooking solutions
Yet Extinction Rebellion seems determined to deprive Africans of the energy they need for a better future. That is exactly what the AEC opposes. That’s also why the Chamber is proud of its “bromance” with Africa and the global oil and gas industry. “We will continue to fight for oil and gas exploration.”
Accusations of Hypocrisy
Ayuk finds it surprising that Extinction Rebellion and Peden attack African exploration efforts while ignoring similar relationships between the oil industry and other regions. They do not criticize:
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Norway, which produces 4 million barrels a day
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The UK, which continues drilling in the North Sea
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The United States, which drills in the Gulf of Mexico
Instead, the target is Africa, where countries want to drill more to help lift the continent out of poverty.
“I hoped she’d bring Greta Thunberg with her since she protests everything,” Ayuk added. “Moraig Peden and foreign-funded environmental groups now suffer from a ‘Mantashe Derangement Syndrome.’ Their attacks on Africans are misleading and dishonest—frankly, outright dishonest. But this is just the beginning. Africans and the energy industry have been through tough times, but you’ve never seen me give up—and we won’t give up our fight to end energy poverty and industrialize Africa. We see Peden’s attacks as hypocritical, especially coming from a wealthy woman with a Eurocentric view of energy, who thinks Africans should remain in the dark while she buys car elevators for her luxury lifestyle.”
Source: African Energy Chamber
