Kenya joins 'oil and gas phase-out' alliance, secures Sh153 million grant
BOGA, is an international alliance of governments working together to facilitate the managed phase-out of oil and gas production.
The alliance marked a decisive move towards a just transition away from oil and gas by awarding an initial $1 Million (Sh153 Million) grant to support Kenya and Colombia in planning a managed shift from fossil fuel dependency. The grant is part of BOGA's initiative to assist countries in carefully planning and executing a driven shift from oil and gas dependency, aligning economies with the critical 1.5°C target.
This announcement is part of implementing the BOGA fund, initially unveiled at COP27 as a $10 million seed fund led by Sequoia Climate Foundation and further supported by the Robertson Foundation. The BOGA fund aims to swiftly assist Global South governments in developing their vision for a post-oil and gas economy.
This allocation represents a crucial step in overcoming operational barriers faced by Global South producer countries seeking to transition away from fossil fuels, aligning their economies with the 1.5°C target. The fund's initiation underscores BOGA's commitment to facilitating the managed phase-out of oil and gas production internationally.
Kenya had, during COP27, said it was supporting the initiative as a friend alongside Chile, Tuvalu, and Fiji. Unlike core members, friends of the initiative are required only to "work together" to align oil and gas production with Paris Agreement objectives.
Through its membership, the country will now commit to ending new licensing rounds for oil and gas exploration and production. Kenya must also set a date per the Paris Climate Agreement to end oil and gas production.
Kenya's Climate Envoy, Ali Mohamed, affirmed BOGA's alignment with Kenya's green development goals. "Kenya is pleased to join this action-oriented Alliance which aligns with our green development strategy and ambition to pursue a development pathway that prioritises our planet and heritage of future generations of Kenyans," he declared.
Dan Jorgensen, Danish Minister for Development Cooperation said,
"We will not achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement without phasing out oil and gas. Science confirms this time and again.”
He added that the welcoming of Quebec (as co-chairs), Spain, Kenya, and Samoa further strengthens the collective efforts towards a fossil-free future.
Highlighting the importance of supporting communities in the process, Andres Camacho, Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy, stated, "BOGA's support will be essential to phasing out oil and gas and making the development of renewable energy projects a reality for the benefit of communities and territories."
Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, Samoan Minister of Natural Resources, stressed the existential threat of fossil fuels to island nations like Samoa. "For our country, the phase-out of fossil fuels is existential," he stated, urging joint action to make it a reality.
Spain’s Vice-President and Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, emphasised the viability of transitioning away from fossil fuels.
"We have agreed to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 and double energy efficiency efforts. None of this will be worthwhile if we do not tackle gradually phasing out fossil fuels," she stated.