If we are to build partnerships around energy Denmark must be willing to address African priorities

We cannot expect African countries to choose Denmark and the West over Russia and China, but we can offer them better terms based on respect and equality. That was the joint message of the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and the Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen, in the daily Politiken recently. They wrote the piece as a new Danish strategic approach for engaging with the African continent was about to be launched (Lars Løkke og Dan Jørgensen: Afgangsskærmen i Addis Ababas lufthavn bør bekymre Vesten. Det bekymrer os - politiken.dk). However, if we want to offer them better terms in the energy sector, we will have to make an extra effort. Over a decade, China became the single biggest financial contributor to energy projects in Africa. That also matters for the prospects of Denmark strengthening its ties with the continent. Energy is hugely important. Many still lack access to modern energy, and to change this is a political priority among decision-makers and populations. In addition, supplies are often unreliable due to outdated power infrastructure. This hampers economic growth, another political priority.