come calling to ask for people's votes. 65 year old diana says they've always been poor and abandoned by politicians, and that sunday's elections won't change anything. or you may ella blood again. you're the only by our votes. they give you many. that's why no one likes some one will improve things. that's all i can say, dana, it's a vicious circle, made it easier by resignation. a belief the decades of corruption is just another cross that those who suffer the most from it simply have to bear. man, you see in human al jazeera, asencion, paraguay, a powerful storm system has rolled through central texas. tens of thousands of residents are without power and powerful winds and rainfalls. switch the southern you with state on friday and saturday. ah,

this is al jazeera, this is the top stories, air strikes and artillery showings, rock sedans. capital is fighting between the army and the rapid support forces enters a 3rd week. the faltering cease fire will expire on sunday. mediation efforts have not yet yielded any results of the un says 50000 sudanese have fled the turmoil at home from neighboring countries. 75000 people are internally displaced. foreign governments are also still pushing to evacuate the nationals from sudan by ear, land, and sea, or survivors of a massacre. burkina faso have blamed the country security forces for an attack last week. they say gunman killed at least $145.00 people, including women and children, and the northern village of karma and surrounding areas. the government has blamed arm groups linked to iceland, arc al qaeda for the right. the protest, sir, have been held in israel against prime minister benjamin netanyahu plans judicial changes for 17 consecutive week. then yahoo put his plans on hold a month ago,

but no agreement has been reached. a police are looking for a suspect in cleveland, texas. after a man shot did 5 of his neighbors and arrest warrant has been issued for francisco auto plaza. the 39 year old mexican national police say the victims all home durance had asked him to stop firing grounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep and authorities in russian enix crimea blaming a ukrainian drone strike for a fire at a fuel depot. the storage tank and the port city of civil stapo exploded, causing a fire that spread across a 1000 square meters. and hundreds of asylum seekers have fought with police at the border between chile and peru, peruvian authorities side. they are trying to curb a legal migration and not allowing people to make the journey through peru, many of the migrants are from venezuela. and so they just want to return home. although the headlines, the news continues here on al jazeera, after counting the cost, which is coming up next,

al jazeera sets the stage $311.00 here 5, i don't know either been deployed with just one enemy, global experts in discussing the idea of being do you have any stamps in democracy, it was bound to explore in abundance of world class programming of it again, belief impacts designed to inform, motivate, and inspire. you are now to sierra ah, [000:00:00;00] with hello, i'm adrian said again, and this is counting the coastal al jazeera. you'll, we can look at the world of business and economics this week. europe has time to

africa to replace russian gas. it's now looking at the continents green hydrogen potential to make the shift to renewables, but can african countries fill the energy gaps? also this week, the us, china and russia, racing for political and economic influence on the continent, but at what cost? plus, playing catch up, washington and beijing, also competing for africa's wrap up elements which are critical to the production of renewable technologies. ah, as europe shown as washing energy supplies, it's increasingly turning to africa. find alternatives. the continent has vast natural gas reserves, but supplies only 6 percent of fossil fuel globally, african governments and businesses want to capitalize on the opportunity created by the war and ukraine. but critics warned that millions of africans lack electricity and supplies a much needed at home overcoat,

some sharif reports since russia invaded ukraine last year. several european leaders have visited african countries. they're looking for alternative energy suppliers. and the continent has some of the world's deepest natural gas reserves. analysts say, a lack of investment in energy infrastructure and security threats from arm groups have hamper development. but the war in ukraine has presented an opportunity, one algeria and italy already exploring ca, much in other allowed procurement. their camille blame is to increase energy exports from algeria to italy and potentially on to europe, including finding solutions to increase the volume of gas transported a new pipeline that would also transport hydrogen, a new electrical undersea cable, and increased production of liquefied natural gas. let any spaniel 2 is tapping up, increasing exports of ellen g liquefied natural gas to germany,

from 2500000 tons this year to up to 10000000 by 2030, which it's hoped will create much needed employment. we want to be able to her whenever it comes to decision maker. this is project for selling off for the development of the country and is important that we have our senegalese national sitting on the table. some believe europe spivey towards africa could solve the continents on supply problems. the international energy agency estimates about 600000000 africans don't have power. while 900000000 have no access to pin fuels for cooking union venue for the am a different, we often have trouble getting electricity. but we think that with this plant, this will change little by little you. i'm currently african countries provide around 20 percent of europe's gas and the energy crisis is fueling hope that the continent can increase the chair. when we consume sharif al jazeera for counting

the cost. johnny has not from johannesburg, his n. j. ioc is the executive chairman at the african energy chamber. good to have you with us, sir. and j, how much of an opportunity for african countries has the war in ukraine provided in terms of energy supplies in war, in ukraine had actually drain african energy supply. and because they've been massive demand for a lot of natural gas going to euro is saying that natural gas could have been use the venus or it, or use we're getting, getting g across africa to already power africa. europe has been the biggest consumer of africa, natural gas, you seen gas sales increase from equity around getting to nigeria. you will mozambie, i pretty shipping some respect shipments on facebook and ellen, he's a hero on our jury, as well as the year has become africa. biggest going to seem of natural gas seems to war ukraine started. africa has massive reserves,

but does it have the capacity to ramp up supply? he doesn't have the capacity to ramp up supply because he has been in massive on the investment in africa. natural gas for a long time, african natural gas has been good on it. back on, on his back food because the around climate concerns. yeah. the lack of investment on that he best been around exploration for natural gas and using infrastructure. people mean like in nigeria i am going through a moroccan are area hot not mean you book you pipelines going from nigeria. true with african american. yeah. has not been, you know, a lot of the gas fields that are being stranded and i have not seen that investment . that has been a problem for africa right now. and i think right now we need to start thinking about having a game changer, henri, around, and financing for infrastructure and, and gas people, and floating in geez,

i've seen that pass track solution for right now for africa with that investment going to come from given that the massive potential for profit here, you'd think that the people would be, would be locking the door down to, to invest in africa right now. well, i think the biggest issue around when people looking at invest in africa around natural gas, you seen massive gas is being found now maybe maybe more them be. nigeria still has great potential petroleum daughtry act as being passed right now in need to really see the financing. but we also have to take into consideration some of the struggles of financing because it does have to wasn't with car. they have to cut red tape, create an environment. i'm re do deals faster, sign be sign, sign you. but also in a sense, way you shouldn't take too long to approve your project any time you needed to drive to, to build

a project. and we need to look us african me just thinking about how we address issues around resource nationalities and it doesn't walk on when we do do investment. truly even greatest. come on. critics, though, as i say that africa needs to fix its internal supply problems 1st before it exports. it's resources to other countries. i mean how, how to africa, governments strike a balance, a balance that, that can be done here. 600000000 africans don't have access to electricity, 900 me. you don't have no access to clean cooking technologies. most of them when the continent is still seeing massive and it won't matter just realization. so that natural gas needed, we could strike a healthy balance to re duque, i'm thinking about gas while european partners and all the same time be able to drive not just gas power projects, but also people chemicals. and all of that,

it gets li, talk to us investment, but also the climate polarization scene around the world. when he comes to gas, it's really a hurry. i forgot the most because he got to be in color right. at the same time in european countries have declared gas green and gas is green for europe. been praying for africa and we need to be very careful about getting cold data telling us a balance, court d i using court power. you're right now was in south africa today did when 8 or 10 i was, we knew it at kristi on black house be so we need to find a balance that when you come down on to pull our asian, that we see and just need someone to partition need to watch the language in the scramble for natural gas is, is europe ignoring africa's potential for renewable energy sources? absolutely. as best potential for renewable sources,

we just started talking about bringing hydrogen this amazing amount of potential to review, re hydrogen on the green ammonia in europe. and we africa really drive that no carbon economy that can really deal with heavy industries. look at morocco, some other projects happen, d, e, g r g area that come right down to south africa. south african, the media is seen amazing amounts on the biggest green hygiene deals that being signing, martina. i'm synagogue and that great potential that has had to come, but we also have to pay attention to the fact that if we going to movies green and call me a low cabin economy, africa has less than 2 percent of global investment in renewables. that is not right, that needs to be increased and that needs to be wrapped up. if you are going to react, achieving just in transition, you can tell africa today. and as we get nothing to colonize, that the same time you not matching those words with financing with connie, and we're not talking a,

we talking real credit lines. we talking financing investments that will really go on and give africa if i can chance to re industrialize why some of their, what the nation come to couple nice at this time. it's been great to talk to your account in the cost many thanks for being with us. and he, so what is an honor to be with you? ah, china has spent 2 decades expanding its political and economic relations with africa to day one in 3 major infrastructure projects on the continent is built by chinese state owned enterprises. that's according to the u. s, but beijing isn't alone. russia is widening its involvement. that 2 mainly through arms sales and mining projects. now after 4 years of neglect, under the trump administration, president joe biden wants to win africa back. his administration's officials of toward the continent over the past few months in

a bid to unlock american investments that among them is vice president comalla harris, who's announced billions of dollars and investments the gonna, tanzania, and zambia. bitin has committed $55000000000.00 in financial assistance to africa over the next 3 years. he's also increased humanitarian aid to african countries, mainly those battling food insecurity. well, here's a look at how american investments in africa compared to chinese ones. china was the continents largest to weigh trading partner in 2021 with more than $254000000000.00 worth of business. the united states institute of peace says that's 4 times the amount of trade between the u. s. and africa. a new study by the center for global development says the chinese banks provided $23000000000.00 to infrastructure projects in sub saharan africa, between 272020. that's more than double. the amount lent by such banks in the u. s . germany, japan,

france combined. beijing is the largest provider of foreign direct investment, supporting hundreds of thousands of african jobs. that's nearly double the level of u. s. foreign direct investment. chinese landing the african countries has dropped lately, but the nation remains by far, the largest linda to african countries. china's critics accused of deliberately lending the african countries that it knows can't repay the money to increase its political influence. beijing denies practicing so cold debt trap diplomacy and says partnerships a built in good faith. the u. s also accuses washes varden a group which i secured many mining projects in africa, of committing human rights abuses and of extorting natural resources in african countries. joining us now from london is alex my and he's the director of the africa program, the managing director of ethics, risk, and resilience at a chat of the house. alex, good to have you with us. why are russia, china the u. s. racing to build economic ties?

with africa right now, where an error of multi polarity and africa has plenty of natural resources. it has strategic and critical minerals. ah, it, it has a very large agricultural base. and so it's, it's a market the many countries want to be engaged in. all of the reality is that we are in a bit of a retreat. and just at the moment because of the state of the global economy and, and hot hyde lending. right? so the, the con, the cost of providing funding has, has gone significantly up. and so there's still plenty of activity on the african continent, but it is much dampened compared with what it was say in 20192020. so putting aside the that, that, the town to for the moment, how does africa approach this dealing doing business with 3 competing powers?

yeah, i mean, not just 3 competing cars. i mean ad in the gulf states, turkey. i'm, you know, the members of the european union. so is a really crowded, frenetic market place. and i think that the word non alignment, i think, is the, the most apparent that comes to mind. many african countries, not all of them. many of them want to be non aligned, they do not want to be pigeonholed. and so they prefer choosing an ally costs approach. they want to kind of pick and choose what's good for them. and i think that that is that the, the new reality that we're dealing with. so that's not bad if you got lots of suitors, as long as you negotiate a good deal in flight praying off russia and china and some gulf states of maybe some europeans. you might get a better deal i if, if you're able to manage and negotiate that well, the by the ministration has stepping up its campaign to, to win africa back. what areas is it looking to invest in and how does that

differ differ rather from the areas that the china and russia are investigate early . the americans are definitely very concerned about access of strategic and critical minerals for the industrial complex back in the united states. have had a number of high level meetings about this, see including on the fringes of the u. n. so countries like the democratic republic of the congo come to mind, i'm the u. s. has looked at how to support the structure, but they infrastructure companies are not doing too well, and some are actually retreating at the moment. so that, that, that the headline says from, from the biden administration, a very positive you've just mentioned the figures, the reality of corporate america falling behind. i'm at the moment. it is very sluggish. if you look at the camilla harris trip that you mentioned, the vice president of the united states to gonna and zambia or am i forget really

the one other country tons near. i think it might have been i'm, i, there wasn't so the so much corporate america tied to that trip despite what she was saying. and there, i think there is a problem for the united states. they really do need to get a lot more corporate american companies focused on the african market than they have at the moment. china is accused, once again of setting debt traps across the continent is, is good question. this is a piece of work that we ourselves did at chatham house, published in that last december. and we looked at where china was really investing so that the reality is it shut china's of f d i and investments are, are deep. but in a smaller number of countries, particularly 7 or 8 countries, which we focused on. when we looked at those in death, we didn't find evidence of debt trap except potentially and one. and that's g booty . and that's because if it's g, a strategic position on the gulf of aidan,

i'm many countries have strategic interests that because of its location by consensus, the that the gulf of aidan itself. but also because of access to the hinterland, ethiopia. so i don't think that the evidence stacks up on, on rhetoric, on the, on deck trap, which tends to be not only out of washington, although less so just recently. but japan and india tend to kind of use that rhetoric. but there's the, the research that we've done doesn't, doesn't support that. and what about what russia is, is doing in africa and 2019 president putin said that he was going to double investment to on the continent has, has that materialized given the sanctions that are in place against russia given the war in ukraine? and so the russians have another, the 2nd russia, africa summit planned for july, this year in st. petersburg. so it'll be interesting to see who shows up and what the headlines are there. and particularly from the commercial side, the reality when i talked to, to russians as it's been very difficult for them in terms of investment. there are

some nice areas still where, where, where russia is investing as longstanding investments in the republic. a guinea on book side. and i've just seen figures through, in terms of exports, of, of kind of a fuel products, kerosene and other things have significantly increased in a couple of african countries, particularly north african ones. but also nigeria, which i think is a reconfigure ration of trade with the african confidence given you and western sanctions. and so those exports are going elsewhere. but russia is struggling except in a, in a few countries. as you've mentioned that private military company, butler has been active and has struck dales to, to extract minerals in exchange for security services. got to talking about x money . thanks for being with us on counting the cost. you're very welcome. thank you for inviting me. africa is also at the heart of a geo political scramble,

so read us minerals demand for those elements is increasing globally as governments around the world, plenty to reduce their emissions and make the transition to green energy. the metals are used in the production of electric vehicles and wind turbines and other renewable technologies. and many african nations have large deposits of them. but chinese miners control most commercial exports of minerals in places like the democratic republic of congo, zambia, and turns in the for example. and beijing refines as much as 60 percent of the world's lithium bolden. 60 percent of its cobalt, according to a report by the brookings institution and results for development. the u. s. wants to decrease its reliance on china and is trying to africa for the minerals. joining us not from idaho in the united states, peter major, the director of mining at modern corporate solutions. good to have you with us, peter. how significant are african deposits of red minerals?

while i drew, like a lot of things, we don't really know how that can they are. we just know africa is the largest continent in the world. and other than asia. and it's probably the least explored, even though man has been here for a few 100 years. western man, it's huge. and it's rich. and just the congo alone is bigger than europe. and congo has gone from almost bursley 50000 tons of copper production a year to almost 2000000 tons just in the last 20 years. and that's just one country out of a huge continent. and it's because there hasn't been a demand large enough that could be met with the rest world. if, if we see a chilly in south america, produces almost a 3rd of the world's copper. but it's now peaked for the last 10 years. it can't produce much more copper is slowly going down,

but the will population keeps growing, and the demand for copper keeps going. and so now, more more countries are turning to africa even though it's, it's still quite disorganized, even though it's quite still 3rd world. it is hugely, hugely rich and still relatively unexplored and that includes all minerals, not just copper. in rarer st, without a doubt, are going to be probably more abundant in china and africa than even are in china with more money put into expiration. so peter, what are the, the challenges for africa than in a realizing its full potential? we hear a word in south africa use quite, quite frequently by the west. and now it's use myself africans themself. although they don't like the word, it's called policy. and even if you were very disorganized,

even if you are very poor, even if you are very corrupt or crime ridden, if you have the correct policies it on board, you will attract money. real money. and we don't mean hot money that comes in the day leads to moral. we lead bricks and mortar money. and that's unfortunately been a lot of africa's problem is their policies change too often. probably your 2nd problem in africa is they can't enforce the policy when they get a good one. and so if you have a bad policy, you attract the wrong money, alfred kidneys, money invested there. that you want the right money and you need the right policy yet. right. and also, i mean, i suppose on the policy comes, security has a lot of unrest in many countries in africa, and people who invest what are know that the assets will, the reverse thing into is, is secure. they certainly do adrian. and amazingly enough, even though governments can't always provide that security,

if they have the correct policy, the western countries, the western investors, and let me not prejudice anyone, yell china asia, either russia. if there is the correct policy, they will bring the money and they will bring in security because the metal prices are so high now that the margin that they can make is large enough to allow for the security. peter, how much control does china have over? ah, africa's rare earth market at an on pricing to what extent as china stolen a march on on the u. s. is, is it trying to get a look in now at increasing its investment? it is. and right now, i don't think china has very much control over africa as reverse has oddly enough. and let's as get specific here,

the rare earth elements. they're not copper, lithium, z, cobalt rearing elements. there's 17 funny sounding names. and the reason china got such great control over them is through most of humanity. there were more earth than man knew what to do with. the u. s. was a much larger producer. up until the 1990s, the late ninety's then was china. but china needed rares, a boy put focus and money into it. and it was producing rivers much cheaper than anybody else in the world could. so all the other production closed down and only china is producing then by the end of the 90s, the early millennium. now there's all a sudden with technology advanced like it is now the use for rare earth elements all sip. 17 of em. there's only a few 1000 tons a year that get produced. now that demand is large enough that china can start

raising prices and they keep raising prices, raising prices in the world's happy to buy from china. china doesn't control africa's reverse. we've hardy found rarer in africa, and yet it's got some good deposits, especially south africa. and especially lawanda, and they're not chinese controlled yet, but as we saw on zillow, bob, we cimbawe is a rising star, lithium, and it wasn't chinese that found it. lithium in zimbabwe it, we saw a stallions and the chinese have now bought the 2 largest lithium deposits in zimbabwe. peter, it's been great to talk to you and cutting the cost. buddy, thanks for being with us. thank you, adrian. i really appreciate your time. and that's our show for this week. get in touch with us. if you want to comment on anything that you've seen, you can tweak me. i'm at a finnigan on twitter. try to remember to use the hash tag a j, c t c. when you to or you can drop us a line,

come to the cost of al jazeera dot net is our email address. there's plenty more few online at al jazeera dot com slash c t. c. that takes you straight to a page there, you'll find individual reports, links, an entire episodes to catch up for that is it for this edition of counting? the cost on adrian said again from the team here. and so how, thanks for being with us. but he is on al jazeera this next ah in 20 a journalist's lead, 40 days of civic action against the armenian government, and president sockets yann's great home power. i'm going to liberate this, where

a new documentary follows his non violent campaign to bring down a corrupt regime, astonishing outcome with regard to a democratic government where the issue i am not alone. armenia is velvet revolution on al jazeera. ah. ready the tins, fighting in sedans, captain cartoon, despite a ceasefire between bible military forces locked in a violent power struggle. this driver bed is what separates is to charge. and the town of to delta in western over their homes on business was left behind by their owners. because of fear of attacks,