Geopolitics: Energy price surge in Europe
Friday, September 09, 2022 | 290 Views |

Bargaining chip: Russia intermittently switches off the Nord Stream pipeline citing repairs PIC: UPSTREAM ONLINE
This week started with an announcement by Russia that it will cut off gas supplies to Europe indefinitely and the unfortunate, sad truth is that Africa will feel the ultimate pinch of this.
Let’s give this context: the economic sanctions imposed by European nations are deemed punitive by Russia which has now closed the taps on the Nord Stream 1 which is the main gas pipeline to Europe. Unfortunately, this is occurring at the beginning of winter and thereby puts Europe in a position of duress to either give in or fight further while finding remedies for their people. This is the biggest energy crisis that Europe has faced for decades when already this supply was volatile even before the war began.
As the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government takes charge, it must act decisively to equip the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) with the tools, laws, and resources needed to combat graft. The time for half-measures is over. DCEC Director-General, Botlhale Makgekgenene’s, recent address to the Public Accounts Committee paints a stark picture. Over five years, leadership instability, chronic underfunding and weak...