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Africa’s next energy boom will be won through infrastructure, not exploration alone

Published

6 months ago

on

African Energy Chamber

S&P Global and the AEC hosted a webinar on the State of African Energy 2026 Outlook, highlighting a shift toward execution, gas monetization, deepwater growth and infrastructure-led investment amid rising risks and capital constraints

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 11, 2026/APO Group/ —

Africa’s next energy expansion cycle will be defined less by discovery and more by execution as governments and operators race to convert reserves into infrastructure, export capacity and long-term industrial growth. Across the continent, deepwater developments, LNG infrastructure and power investments are increasingly emerging as the real measure of competitiveness as capital providers shift focus toward delivery certainty, regulatory stability and monetization pathways.

 

This transition was a central theme during the State of African Energy 2026 Outlook webinar hosted by S&P Global and the African Energy Chamber (AEC), offering a detailed read on Africa’s upstream trajectory. The webinar, hosted by Vice President of the AEC Verner Ayukegba, brought together analysts from S&P Global to assess shifting investment flows, evolving project timelines and the principal risks shaping African energy markets.

 

Africa’s upstream oil and gas sector is entering a phase of stabilization, with production forecasts at 11.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026 and capital expenditure expected to reach $41 billion. Offshore deepwater remains the dominant growth driver, increasingly shaping long-term supply resilience as mature onshore basins face natural decline and higher reinvestment thresholds.

 

S&P Global’s Director for African Regional Research Justin Cochrane highlighted Africa’s structural under-exploration, noting that only around 25,000 wells have ever been drilled across the continent. He stressed that 74% of discoveries since 2010 have come from deepwater and ultra-deepwater plays, with gas accounting for 73% of total hydrocarbon finds. However, he cautioned that monetization remains uneven, with many frontier discoveries still lacking infrastructure or viable market access.

 

Natural gas is emerging as the central investment thesis for African energy development, increasingly positioned as both a transition fuel and an industrial enabler. LNG expansion, floating production solutions and domestic gas-to-power initiatives are reshaping the continent’s energy mix as global buyers compete for flexible, non-Russian supply and regional demand continues to grow.

 

Simon Wood, Head of EMEA Gas, LNG and Low Carbon Gases Consulting, S&P Global noted that global LNG supply growth is accelerated but stressed that Africa must focus on building integrated value chains rather than relying solely on resource availability. He said, “there is no shortage of gas potential in Africa,” but emphasized that regulatory certainty, infrastructure alignment and aggregation models are essential to de-risk projects and unlock financing at scale.

 

There is no shortage of gas potential in Africa

Energy access remains Africa’s most pressing structural challenge, with approximately 600 million people still lacking electricity and over 900 million without clean cooking access. At the same time, electricity demand is expected to grow by nearly 4% annually through 2030, driven by population growth, urbanization and emerging digital and industrial loads.

 

Rehan Burger, Associate Director for Global Power, S&P Global noted that renewables will dominate long-term capacity additions but warned that intermittency creates system-wide instability without flexible baseload support. He described gas as “system critical,” arguing it plays a stabilizing role in enabling renewable integration while ensuring reliability across grids that remain underdeveloped and highly fragmented.

 

Critical minerals are emerging as a parallel strategic pillar alongside hydrocarbons, with Africa holding roughly 30% of global reserves of key inputs such as cobalt, lithium and platinum group metals. These resources are becoming central to global electrification, battery supply chains and industrial decarbonization strategies.

 

Ross Embleton, Principal Consultant, S&P Global cautioned that Africa’s resource advantage alone is insufficient to guarantee value capture. He emphasized that success depends on investment conditions, governance stability and infrastructure readiness. “This opportunity is not automatic,” he noted, adding that beneficiation strategies in countries such as Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo will determine whether Africa transitions from exporter of raw materials to industrial producer.

 

The 2026 Middle East crisis has introduced a severe external shock to global energy markets, disrupting nearly 10 million barrels per day of supply following particle closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rising about $110 has triggered demand destruction, inflationary pressure and widespread supply chain realignment across importing countries.

 

The situation is the largest oil disruption in history, according to S&P Global’s Director and Head of African Fuels and Refining Research Stanislas Drochon, who warned that Africa is disproportionately exposed due to high import dependence and limited strategic inventories. He noted that trade flows are already shifting, with countries such as South Africa increasing imports while accelerating efforts to diversify supply routes and strengthen regional resilience.

 

Across all segments, the Outlook reinforces a structural transition from resource discovery toward capital-intensive execution. Africa’s primary constraint in 2026 is no longer subsurface potential, but rather the ability to deliver infrastructure, regulatory clarity and coordinated financing at scale to convert reserves into sustained production.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Djibouti to Headline South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2026 Ministerial Panel

Published

12 hours ago

on

November 10, 2026

By

SSOP

The Ministerial Panel will feature ministerial representatives from South Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti and Uganda

JUBA, South Sudan, November 10, 2026/APO Group/ –Senior energy and government representatives from South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Djibouti will participate in a ministerial panel at South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2026, taking place November 24-25 in Juba. The discussion will focus on strengthening regional energy cooperation, advancing cross-border infrastructure and attracting investment into East Africa’s petroleum sector.

 




 
 

Titled Regional Cooperation, Investment and Energy Security, the panel will feature Awow Daniel Chuang, Minister of Petroleum of South Sudan; Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda; Silvester Kasuku, Advisor, Governance, Executive Office of the President, Kenya; and Wahib Ali Boulo, Director of Hydrocarbons, Djibouti.

Their participation comes as East Africa enters a new exploration and production cycle, backed by the start of upstream projects in Uganda and Kenya, a drive to strengthen cross-border trade by Djibouti and efforts to increase crude production in South Sudan. Regional cooperation is supporting these activities and SSOP 2026 will provide a platform to explore East Africa’s broader energy renaissance.

Minister Chuang joins the event as South Sudan opens its upstream market to international investors. Under efforts to raise production from 174,000 barrels per day (bpd) to around 230,000 bpd in the near term, the country is inviting investors to support brownfield development, accelerate exploration and expand refining capacity. Around 14 blocks are currently available.

Uganda is also promoting investment in exploration as the country prepares to start oil production from the Kingfisher and Tilenga oilfields in June 2027. The fields represent the country’s entry into commercial oil production. Crude will be exported via the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, currently 92% complete, which connects the fields to Tanzania’s Port of Tanga. To sustain upstream investment, the country also plans to launch a licensing round in 2026/2027.

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Kenya is preparing to join East Africa’s oil producers as the country prepares for first production from the South Lokichar Basin in December 2026. Developed by Gulf Energy, the project targets 20,000 bpd in its first phase and 50,000 bpd in its second. The project coincides with investments in the downstream sector. In late-September 2026, Nigeria’s Dangote Group launched construction activities at a 700,000-bpd refinery in Lamu. A South Sudanese delegation, led by Minister Chuang, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

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As regional neighbors prepare for commercial oil production, Djibouti continues to strengthen its cross-border partnerships. The country signed an agreement with South Sudan in 2025 to develop the White Nile Trade Corridor, which aims to establish river and dry-port infrastructure in Juba, Bor, Malakal and Renk, connecting South Sudan to international trade routes through Djibouti. Boulo’s participation at SSOP 2026 creates new pathways for strengthened regional ties.

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Returning for its seventh edition under the theme Resource Renaissance – Energy-Fueled Growth for a New Generation, SSOP 2026 will provide a platform for policymakers, national oil companies, investors and infrastructure developers to examine how regional partnerships can strengthen energy security and accelerate project development.

For more information, visit www.SouthSudanOilPower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 




 

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Mauritania’s New Energy and Petroleum Minister Confirmed for MSGBC 2026

Published

19 hours ago

on

November 10, 2026

By

Etu Energias

Mohamed Ould Abdel Vetah takes office as Mauritania opens power generation to private investors

DAKAR, Senegal, November 9, 2026/APO Group/ –Mohamed Ould Abdel Vetah, Mauritania’s newly appointed Minister of Energy and Petroleum, has confirmed his participation at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 in Dakar. Minister Vetah was appointed on October 10 in a new 29-member government, having previously served as Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines from 2016 to 2020. His participation at the upcoming summit offers delegates direct engagement with the official responsible for Mauritania’s gas and power agenda as the country seeks to attract capital across its evolving energy and hydrocarbon sectors

 




  

Minister Vetah joins the event as Mauritania enters a new investment cycle anchored by efforts to scale gas monetization, incentivize exploration and open new opportunities in renewable energy and power development. The country has been an LNG exporter since early 2025, when the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, developed jointly with Senegal, shipped its first cargo. The project is now operating at full capacity, and gas is also set to anchor domestic power supply, with national utility Somelec and state miner SNIM having signed power purchase agreements with Saudi Arabia’s TAQA and Egypt’s GoGas Holding. The agreements fit within a gas-to-power program tied to the country’s Banda field and targeted for 2028.

 

Mauritania has committed to a fully private power generation model in which independent power producers develop all new plants, with two gas-fired projects in development expected to add a combined 550 MW to the grid. Renewables are scaling in parallel, led by a 220 MW solar-wind plant with 370 MWh of battery storage, developed under a 15-year concession with Somelec and slated to begin commercial production in the final quarter of 2026.

 

Minister Vetah’s career spans Mauritania’s gas sector and regional energy cooperation. During his previous term, Mauritania and Senegal signed the GTA gas sales agreement with bp and Kosmos Energy in 2020, and before entering government he served as General Manager of state gas company SOMAGAZ and as a consultant to TotalEnergies E&P Mauritania. Most recently, he spent nearly four years as High Commissioner of the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River.

 

Regional cooperation has been an early priority for the minister, who was received in Dakar by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on October 16 and reaffirmed his commitment to cooperation between the two countries. At MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026, Minister Vetah will speak during the event’s Ministerial Dialogue, titled ‘Executing the MSGBC Region’s Energy Strategy’ and the Mauritania National Spotlight.

Organized by Energy Capital & Power, MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 takes place December 1-3 at the Centre International de Conférences Abdou Diouf (CICAD) in Dakar under the High Patronage of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. For more information and registration, visit www.MSGBCOilGasAndPower.com.

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

 




 

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Africa’s nuclear debate moves from ambition to execution

Published

2 days ago

on

November 9, 2026

By

Nuclear energy

The execution challenge extends beyond reactor technology

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 9, 2026/APO Group/ –Nuclear energy is returning to strategic power-sector discussions as countries consider how to secure reliable, low-carbon baseload electricity while expanding variable renewable generation.

 




  

For African governments assessing nuclear power, the debate has moved beyond the broad question of whether the technology should form part of the energy mix. Attention is on the practical requirements of implementation, including:

  • reactor selection,
  • regulation,
  • finance,
  • skills and training,
  • projecting structures, and
  • long-term institutional capacity.

These issues are examined in the Industry Insights Nuclear Energy Volume, created by VUKA Group through its trusted media house, ESI Africa. The volume considers which nuclear technologies are leading the generation market, why other technologies are struggling, and which African countries have progressed furthest in translating nuclear intent into practical programmes.

Download Industry Insights Nuclear Energy Volume (https://apo-opa.co/4zB4Fx9)

The execution challenge extends beyond reactor technology

Technology selection remains an important part of any nuclear programme. The volume examines the reactor types available to the market and the technologies that are likely to attract attention once South Africa’s bidding and procurement processes begin.

Detailed coverage of the AP1000 and VVER-1200 places these designs within their development and operating contexts. The volume also considers the mined minerals supporting the nuclear energy future and the wider resource requirements behind the fuel cycle.

Reactor selection, however, is only one part of delivery. Nuclear programmes also require credible governance, regulatory capacity, appropriate skills, financing structures and sustained policy commitment.

The volume reflects this wider view by bringing together technology, markets and the practical conditions needed to advance projects.

Africa’s nuclear pathways are developing at different speeds

Several features within the volume examine Africa’s race for atomic power and the countries moving furthest towards implementation.

The coverage considers why nuclear energy is becoming an execution question for governments rather than a purely philosophical discussion. It also examines the cost of excluding nuclear power from long-term planning and what must happen to move programmes from a national vision towards bankable reality.

Each country will need to assess nuclear development against its own electricity demand, financial position, regulatory environment and institutional capabilities. Comparing progress across African markets can nevertheless help decision-makers understand the different pathways available and the foundations that need to be established before procurement or construction begins.

Financing determines whether policy becomes a programme

Nuclear development involves large capital requirements and long planning and delivery periods. The structure of a programme is therefore as significant as its technical case.

Projects must be supported by clear ownership arrangements, credible institutions and financing models suited to their development timelines. Governments and utilities must also consider how risks will be allocated and how programmes will retain continuity across planning, procurement, construction and operation.

The volume’s focus on moving the conversation from vision to bankable reality places finance within this broader delivery system. It examines the conditions needed before nuclear ambition can become an investable infrastructure proposition.

Understanding Africa’s emerging nuclear market

The ESI Africa on-demand webinar Africa’s emerging nuclear power market extends the discussion by examining the factors influencing nuclear development across the continent.

It provides a further resource for stakeholders assessing the direction of the market, the technologies under consideration and the requirements associated with implementing new nuclear programmes.

Watch Africa’s emerging nuclear power market on-demand (https://apo-opa.co/4ztOrpf)

Nuclear within Africa’s wider energy conversation

Nuclear energy will form part of the wider discussion around generation, investment and electricity-system development at Enlit Africa, taking place from 11 to 13 May 2027 at the CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa. As the host media partner, ESI Africa will once again conduct in-person studio interviews at the event.

The event brings together stakeholders from across the power and energy sector to examine the policies, technologies, investments and delivery models influencing Africa’s electricity future.

Explore Enlit Africa 2027 (https://apo-opa.co/4BQA003)

Connecting infrastructure plans with capital

Large infrastructure programmes require more than national ambition. Projects need to be structured, tested and connected with organisations able to finance and support their delivery.

The Project & Investment Network, in partnership with African Infrastructure Elites: Projects and People annual magazine, hosted at Enlit Africa 2027 connects project owners with investors, financiers, developers, offtakers and solution providers. Its focus is on strengthening project propositions, building bankability and moving viable African energy and water projects closer to implementation.

Submit a project to the Project & Investment Network (https://apo-opa.co/4fkfxHk)

Recognising infrastructure leadership and delivery

African Infrastructure Elites: People and Projects 26/27 documents the projects, partnerships and people contributing to infrastructure delivery across the continent.

As Host Media Partner of the Project & Investment Network, the publication connects the investment discussion with evidence of implementation and achievement. Readers can join the waiting list for the forthcoming edition.

Join the African Infrastructure Elites 26/27 waiting list (https://apo-opa.co/4C87zLx)

ESI Africa’s next related sector discussion will continue through the Smart Solutions & Data Centres Volume 2027, examining the technologies and infrastructure systems influencing growing digital demand.

Explore Smart Solutions & Data Centres Volume 2027 (https://apo-opa.co/4An2hKo)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

 




 

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