MOSCOW, October 12. /TASS/. Energy problems and the energy development of the African continent will be a key topic at the second Russia-Africa summit to be held next year in St. Petersburg, Oleg Ozerov, Ambassador-at-Large and Head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, said on Wednesday at the Russian Energy Week international forum.
"It is quite obvious that at next summer’s summit in St. Petersburg, the problems of energy and energy development in Africa will play a central role. Why? Because the development of the energy sector is the main condition for the industrialization of the African continent," he said.
At the same time, the diplomat noted that it was necessary first and foremost to ensure the energy security of Africa itself, rather than the export of its resources. "I think that this is a topic that we will all discuss together at the second summit," Ozerov added.
"We see now that African countries have set themselves the task of shifting their economies toward industrialization. But without solving the problems of energy, without providing access to electricity and the population and businesses that must create industry and production, it will be impossible to solve the problem of industrialization," the diplomat summarized.