Both companies, as well as BP BP.L and Equinor EQNR.OL sent top executives to the Sharm El-Sheikh event. Pressure to leave hydrocarbons in the ground has been weakened this year by the disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine that led to a surge in energy prices and pushed inflation to multi-decade highs. Even countries with binding commitments to switch to low carbon energy have found their priorities have shifted, at least in the short term and African nations see the potential for new export markets, as well as a chance to end domestic fuel poverty.