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Due to the conflict in Ukraine, Europe is looking for alternative sources of energy. Energy companies in Africa are jumping on the opportunity to get European investors. Since 45% of Europe's imported gas comes from Russia the need to look for alternative sources is more important. Africa has one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world which can be enough to replace Russia's gas. But, big questions remain in place such as how quickly gas will transfer between the two continents due to the previous under-investment in the African industry. Three countries had agreed to resume construction of a 2,565-mile linkage between Warri in Nigeria through Niger, and then through Hassi R'Mel in Algeria. Finally, reaching Europe through existing links between Algeria and Italy

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Natural gas pipelines off the coast of Jacqueville, Ivory Coast. (Sia Kambou/AFP/Getty Images)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - N.J. Ayuk tried for years to tout African oil and gas projects to European governments and companies.

"I used to beg for them to take my calls," said Ayuk, the executive chairman of the African Energy Chamber. But with oil price volatility shaking global markets amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and fears of fuel shortages, European nations are looking more closely at Africa's abundant natural gas as a potential new source of energy, he said.

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"Right now, I think they have me on speed dial," Ayuk said.

The change reflects the shifting geopolitical landscape in Europe, with ripple effects around the world, from the Russian invasion. Economic sanctions by the European Union, the United States and Japan have hobbled long-standing Russian trade ties.

That means suppliers such as the underdeveloped frontier energy markets of Africa may find new energy sector investors in Europe who can no longer rely on Russian natural gas, which has long been their dominant source.

Ayuk and other African energy officials head this week to the European Commission in Brussels, followed by Berlin, for talks on Africa's role in Europe's energy transition. The African Energy Chamber is the continent's largest energy advocacy group representing private companies.

"We want to see things signed. We want to see them commit to bringing in technology, funding and financing to get things done," Ayuk said. "If we don't have a fierce urgency of now, we are going to lose this moment."

The E.U. buys 45 percent of its imported gas from Russia, according to the International Energy Agency.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on March 11 that the E.U. would outline proposals by mid-May to phase out the E.U.'s dependency on Russian fossil fuels by 2027.

Europe's plan to wean off Russian energy could lead to price shocks and political blowback

That means opportunity for Africa, which has some of the world's largest natural gas reserves. The African supply could replace some of the 155 billion cubic meters that Europe imported from Russia last year.

Tim McPhie, European Commission spokesman, confirmed meetings starting Tuesday in Brussels with several African energy delegations. "When it comes to finding alternative gas suppliers, the E.U. is in discussion with a very wide range of potential exporters - including a number of countries in Africa," McPhie said.

"The E.U. has a clear objective to diversify our gas suppliers in the short term, while retaining our focus on boosting renewables and phasing out fossil fuels to meet our climate goals," the spokesperson said. "At present, [liquefied natural gas] offers the fastest option to diversify our gas supplies."

The shift in global energy markets raises questions about how countries can meet their climate goals under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Europe has said it wants to reduce imports of natural gas from 2030 and move toward green energy alternatives such as renewable hydrogen.

Vincent Obisie-Orlu, a natural resource researcher at Good Governance Africa, a nonprofit organization, said Europe had long discouraged Africa from expanding its oil and gas exports and encouraged a move toward more renewable energy resources.

Now, he said, there is a risk that a rush to help Europe could push aside climate ambitions.

"It is going to be a challenge, but this may be an opportunity for Europe and Africa to collaborate on the energy transition on the continent," Obisie-Orlu said. "It's going to mean Europe will be able to help and support African countries develop new renewable energy resources."

As sanctions over Ukraine war mount, Russia turns to India to buy oil and arms

Another question for Africa is how quickly gas can flow north to Europe after years of underinvestment in the sector amid demand and price fluctuations, and growing pressure on companies and banks to stop investing in carbon-intensive oil and gas projects.

"Africa can't just turn on the tap and gas will see Europe," Ayuk said. "There are a lot of things that have to happen."

An example of the changing dynamics is the proposed Trans-Saharan gas pipeline recently resurrected by the Algerian government, which could send up to 30 billion cubic meters a year from Nigeria to Algeria via Niger and on to Europe.

In February, the three countries agreed to resume the 2,565-mile project that will link Warri in Nigeria to Hassi R'Mel in Algeria, transiting Niger. Algeria could also build upon its existing links through Italy.

"The big question is how are you going to fund it, how are you going to finance it, to drive that gas into Europe?" said Ayuk of the estimated $12-to-$15-billion project. "It could be a game-changer for Africa and for Europe."

However, European countries have signaled they favor supporting existing energy infrastructure instead of building costly new pipelines. Countries that could benefit would be Nigeria, Angola, Senegal, Mauritania and Mozambique.

"The gas producers have some real opportunities if they can seize it in time," said J. Peter Pham, former U.S. special envoy for the Sahel. "Certainly, this vulnerability in Europe and America's desire to help the Europeans cope with this has made it a friendlier environment to at least talk about rational investment in fossil fuel, both for Europe's energy security but also for Africa's energy transition."

Still, developing such projects as the Saharan pipeline from Nigeria also comes with security challenges, Pham cautioned. Militant groups in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region have threatened to resume attacks amid disagreements over the share of oil wealth. The country has also grappled with kidnappings for ransom and deadly Islamist insurgencies.

"As attractive of a proposal as it may seem these days, the flow of energy to Europe via a Nigeria-Niger-Algeria corridor will remain - no pun intended - a pipe dream unless security is established along the entire route," Pham said. "As things currently stand, it's hard to imagine construction, much less actual deliveries being made through the Sahel."

Similar security questions threaten a project in Mozambique, which has about 2.8 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, or almost 1 percent of the world's total reserves. An insurgency by Islamic State-linked militants in the northern Cabo Delgado province suspended a multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas project by France's TotalEnergies in April.

Next door, Tanzania has the sixth-largest gas reserves in Africa, estimated at 1.6 billion cubic meters, and is scheduled to begin construction on a $30 billion liquefied natural gas project in 2023.

Tanzanian Energy Minister January Makamba said interest in developing the country's deep-water gas fields had picked up during global climate negotiations last year, with some considering gas as a bridging fuel between hydrocarbons and renewables. Further momentum came after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he said.

Some international oil companies "have abandoned their production source in Russia, and they have market commitments in which Tanzanian gas would cover those commitments," he said in an interview.

"We have gas, and if geopolitical developments somehow created an opportunity for us, we're not going to complain about it," Makamba said. "That said, we don't want to be seen as war profiteers."

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Europe's phase-out of Russian energy over the Ukraine crisis could mean opportunity for African countries

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa - N.J. Ayuk tried for years to tout African oil and gas projects to European governments and companies. "I used to beg for them to take my calls," said Ayuk, the executive chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

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What is currently happening in Ukraine is hauntingly similar to the events that happened in Syria only 6 years ago, where Russia bombed Aleppo into submission and cut off their food supply. They asked for help via social media and other international forms of communication, posting videos of the daily horrors happening in their country, but they received nearly no help. Syrians simply hope that what happened in Syria will serve as a lesson, and they wonder if something had been done during the invasion of Syria, maybe Russia would have lacked the courage today to invade Ukraine. They hope for Ukraine to win this war, as to stop Russia from going any further.

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Syrians watch in horror as Putin deploys the Aleppo playbook in Ukraine | CNN

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Six years before its Ukraine war, Russia began another ruthless military operation thousands of kilometers away in Syria – to prop up the Bashar al-Assad regime. Victims of that war say the scenes from Ukraine on their television screens look hauntingly familiar.

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People dressed as Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, right, and his brothers, Finance Minister Basil, left, and PM Mahinda walk during a protest 

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the people of Sri Lanka are growing angrier due to the country being in the worst economic crisis it's ever been in since they gained independence in 1948. Almost all of the anger from this crisis is being aimed at the Rajapaksa family, the family who is reported to hold almost all of the power within the island. Late on Thursday, hundereds of people attempted to storm the home of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the current president. 45 people were arrested, but just one was hurt.

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Russia accused Ukraine of bombing a fuel depot in Belgorod. This incident set a bad tone for talks of a peace treaty. The Foreign minister of Ukraine can not say if i was Ukraine or not because he did not have military information following the attack. This would be the first attack by Ukraine if it were confirmed. Images taken show multiple missiles fired from very low, but unable to tell who fired the missiles. The blaze injured 2 workers, other than that no casualties. Russia claims this will not hurt their fuel consumption.

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China and the EU are meeting today to discuss Russia, and how their actions will affect world trade. Russia is one of China's top trading partners, but they don't want lose their trade relationship with Europe by backing Russia. The Chinese have yet to condemn Russian actions, which worries Europe, but many believe China is trying to stay neutral. The EU has tried to convince china to condemn Russian actions, but they don't ant to lose Russia as a trading partner. This meeting could affect the whole worlds trading landscape. The Chinese have warned the US and EU to not interrupt legitimate act as China has called the Invasion.

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War between Russia and Ukraine continue. An explosion at an oil depot in Belgorod, Russia, has been said to be caused by the Ukrainian military. Battles continue aroud Kyiv. The mayor stated this today. "The risk of dying (in Kyiv) is pretty high, and that’s why my advice to anyone who wants to come back is: Please, take a little bit more time."

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Jeremy Fleming, the director of Britain’s electronic surveillance agency, said Russian troops, plagued by low morale and weapons shortages, have refused to carry out orders and accidentally shot down their own aircraft.

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Video: U.K. Spy Chief Says Russian Soldiers Have Disobeyed Orders

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Jeremy Fleming, the director of Britain's electronic surveillance agency, said Russian troops, plagued by low morale and weapons shortages, have refused to carry out orders and accidentally shot down their own aircraft.

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on march 30, the space hubble telescope recently discovered a star, that is the furthest star ever recorded from earth. a star so far away that in order for the light to reach, the star has to be almost as old as the universe itself, with its creation being within the first billion years after the big bang. the stars name is Earendil which is the name of a character in the lord of the rings who pilots the brightest star in the night sky and is referred to as "our most beloved star" by the elves.

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Meet Earendel: Hubble telescope’s most distant star discovery gets a Tolkien-inspired name

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Eight peacekeepers were killed when a U.N. helicopter crashed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday during rebel fighting. The bodies were taken away and an investigation was under way. Six of the eight crew members were from the Pakistani military and two military personnel - one from Russia and one from Serbia. Pakistan's army said all eight men died and even gave the names of the pilot and the crew. The helicopter was on a mission before crashing - it crashed in an area where clashes have been going on all week between the Congolese army and a rebel group known as the M23. Congo's army said the helicopter was shot down by the rebel group but the M23 denied. A reason for why the plane crashed has not been released and an investigation is underway. The M23 group was driven out of Congo in 2012 and 2013. It's fighters have come back to attack.

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KINSHASA - Eight peacekeepers were killed when a U.N. helicopter crashed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday amid rebel fighting, the United Nations said.

The bodies of the peacekeepers have been taken to Goma and an investigation was underway into the circumstances of the crash, the United Nations said in a statement.

They included six crew members from the Pakistani military and two military personnel - one from Russia and one from Serbia, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, said in a statement.

Pakistan's army said that all eight people had died, and gave the names of the pilot and crew. Pakistan has deployed an aviation unit to the U.N. mission in Congo since 2011, it said.

The helicopter was on a reconnaissance mission when it went down in the area of Tshanzu, in North Kivu province, where there have been clashes this week between the Congolese army and a rebel group known as the M23, MONUSCO said.

Congo's army said the helicopter was shot down by rebels, which the M23's spokesman denied. MONUSCO did not state the cause of the crash and said investigations were underway.

The M23 group was driven out of Congo after an insurgency in 2012 and 2013 and chased into neighboring Uganda and Rwanda. Its fighters have since come back to wage attacks, including one in the same part of Congo in November.

Heavy fighting started when the M23 attacked two Congolese army positions on Sunday night. By Tuesday the rebels had moved into the city of Kabindi and were nearing the area's local administrative seat, the town of Rutshuru, according to a civil society coordinator.

"If these enemies manage to dislodge our forces, Rutshuru centre will fall," Jean Damascene Baziyaka told reporters.

Uganda's army has also entered the fray and said it killed 14 M23 fighters near the border with Congo on Tuesday.

"This evening they (M23) attacked us, they shelled the Ugandan side and some civilian houses were destroyed. Our forces responded and 14 rebels were killed, seven were taken prisoners of war," Ugandan military spokesperson Brigadier Felix Kulayigye said, adding one of its soldiers also died in the fighting.

There have been regional efforts in recent years to demobilize the M23, but its leaders have complained about the slow implementation of a peace accord and accused the Congolese army of waging war against it.

M23 spokesman Willy Ngoma said on Tuesday that the group was fighting only to defend itself.

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U.N. chopper crashes in eastern Congo, 8 peacekeepers killed

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KINSHASA - Eight peacekeepers were killed when a U.N. helicopter crashed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday amid rebel fighting, the United Nations said. The bodies of the peacekeepers have been taken to Goma and an investigation was underway into the circumstances of the crash, the United Nations said in a statement.

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Even with the war going on for more than 34 days so far the Turkish foreign minister said the meeting produced the most significant progress so far in peace negotiations. While Russia says they will cut back on military activity toward Kyiv there is still a high risk they will attack military and civilian infrastructure. Even during the meeting Russia attacked an oil depot in the west side of Ukraine. It is clear that Ukraine has put up much more resistance than what Put anticipated which is making the war much more costly to Russia than Putin expected. The "West" does not think that Putin is really serious about making peace. There is some concern that some of the Ukrainian delegates were exposed to chemical weapons poisoning by Russia, but a Ukraine advisor denied the reports. Time will tell how successful this meeting will actually be.

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Russia, Ukraine negotiators hold talks in Turkey as Moscow says it will pull back from Kyiv, Chernihiv

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The first face-to-face talks in nearly three weeks between members of the Ukraine and Russian delegations concluded Wednesday in Istanbul, Turkey.

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Russian Reporter protests live on Russian news

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Russian Reporter, Marina Ovsyannikova held up a sign live on Russian reporter, saying in both Russian and English saying no war. She interrupted the broadcast because she was sick of the war and felt shame for working for what she calls, the Kremlin propaganda. In my opinion, she doesn't need to be ashamed because she was kinda forced to in a way and she spoke out against the propaganda anyways, though she could have gone to jail. After the broadcast, she was arrested and was interrogated for 14 hours, but the interrogators didn't think it was her idea so she was set free. She says she means all of it but people and Russian authorities think she was forced to do it. She explains she is sick of this and her dad is Ukrainian and her mom is Russian, and what they are doing is wrong. I'm glad some Russians are against this war and hopefully, more people will realize this is wrong and the war will stop soon.