Terrorism Threat to Energy Resources and Infrastructure in Africa?

Terrorism is gradually gaining hold in many African countries. Apart from the effects of terrorism to human life amongst many others, should we care about its effect to the already inadequate and undeveloped energy resources and infrastructure in Africa? I guess we are usually too busy caring for other things than to think about how we get energy in our homes or fuel for our cars to the extent of thinking of how terrorism could affect all these.  

The fight against terrorism for many is the concern of the affected country or region. Our attitudes can be perhaps best described as ‘can’t care less cos it’s not here yet’.  Just yesterday, a friend in Nigeria seemed disinterested in the bombing of a school by Boko haram militants because it was so far from where she lived or perhaps the atrocities of Boko haram were becoming somewhat commonplace to arouse any interest.

But, it must be understood that energy forms an integral element for Africa’s development. I do not want to get into the sentiments of whether foreign investors or companies in Africa are the best or not. However, investments in African energy is crucial to African development. In January this year, an Islamist terror group launched an attack on the gas plant in Amen 

as in Algeria which many security experts considered a turning point in North Africa and the worldwide energy industry, citing it as the worst terrorist attack on oil and gas installations in the industry’s 150-year history. A few weeks back, Genel energy suspended its exploration operations in Somali land due to security concerns.

Critical energy infrastructures (CEI) are increasingly becoming a prime target for terror groups. Critical energy infrastructures include installations and networks for generating electricity and the extraction of oil and gas, storage and refineries, liquid gas terminals, nuclear power stations, water dams and transport and distribution systems. For people like myself, losing some sleep over how terrorism affects energy is a long shot but it is definitely bound to get my attention if it interferes with the many fun things I would like to do i.e. watch my favourite shows on TV due to power outages, shortage of fuel for our generators, inability to charge our many fancy gadgets like laptops, tablets etc meaning a disconnect from our facebook, twitter, Skype and other social networks there may be. In short, we should take some time to think of how all the fun activities we enjoy are linked to energy. I ASSURE you, terrorism poses a threat to everything we hold dear.

Just before I go, have you considered ECOCIDE?