War in Ukraine is driving demand for Africa's natural gas. That's controversial

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/29/ [login to see] /war-in-ukraine-is-driving-demand-for-africas-natural-gas-thats-controversial
As Europe scrambles to replace the Russian natural gas that funds Moscow's war effort, fossil fuel companies are using this moment to push for new gas projects all over the world. Much of the industry lobbying centers on almost a dozen countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The European Union's new blueprint for getting the bloc off Russian gas highlights sub-Saharan Africa for "untapped LNG potential," referring to liquified natural gas which is imported by ship. This spring the Italian foreign minister visited Angola and the Congo to sign new LNG deals, and the German Chancellor traveled to Senegal for gas talks last month.

American and European energy executives have been landing in private jets across Africa, to persuade governments to accelerate projects they say would feed Europe's desperate demand for gas.

One of those energy companies is Italy's ENI, which is fast-tracking plans for LNG in Congo, and has signed new gas contracts there and in Angola since Russia invaded Ukraine.

"We have of course accelerated deals there in the last month," says Guido Brusco, ENI's chief operating officer natural resources. "Clearly the crisis gave a priority lane."