Adrian Strydom, chief executive officer of the South African Oil and Gas Alliance. (Image source: South African Oil and Gas Alliance)

Africa is at a turning point in its energy journey

As cities expand and industries grow, the demand for electricity is rising fast. By 2040, Africa will need nearly 1,200 gigawatts of power, yet 600 million people still lack electricity, holding back development, healthcare, and education.

This creates a major challenge: How can Africa expand energy access without locking itself into high-emission fuels? The solution must balance affordability, sustainability, and reliability. While solar and wind power are critical, most countries lack the infrastructure to rely on them alone. Grids must remain stable, industries need steady energy, and cross-border trade requires a consistent supply. Natural gas plays a vital role in this—acting as a bridge to cleaner energy while meeting urgent electricity needs.

Africa houses about 7% of the world’s proven natural gas reserves, and production has increased by over 70% since 2000, with forecasts predicting 520 bn cu/m by 2050.

Several African countries are already benefiting from utilising natural gas reserves.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest gas producer, has over 200 trillion cu/ft of reserves, supporting millions of jobs across extraction, processing, and transportation. The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project in Senegal and Mauritania is attracting billions in investment, strengthening energy security. South Africa, facing a “gas cliff” due to declining imports, is exploring its local reserves to protect industrial growth. Mozambique’s Coral Sul floating LNG platform has already started production, with revenue projections reaching around US$70mn annually between 2025 and 2027. Meanwhile, the Mozambique LNG and Rovuma LNG projects hold immense potential, boasting over 100 trillion cu/ft of recoverable gas, though they remain in early development stages.

Many African countries produce only a small fraction of global emissions, yet they withstand the worst of climate change, facing extreme droughts, floods, and food insecurity. Expecting them to abandon fossil fuels without practical alternatives could slow economic development and widen inequalities. A fair energy transition must acknowledge that countries have different economic conditions and needs than major polluters. The shift to cleaner energy must be structured in a way that allows Africa to grow sustainably without compromising its ability to provide reliable power, create jobs, and strengthen its industries.

Currently, many African countries don’t have the infrastructure to rely on renewables alone. Power grids are weak, underfunded, and often unreliable. The main challenge with solar and wind energy is that they depend on the weather. If the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, power generation drops, causing disruptions. Batteries can store excess energy for later use, but large-scale storage technology is still too expensive and not widely available.

This is where natural gas plays a crucial role. Natural gas and renewables complement each other to form a balanced and resilient energy mix. Gas provides the flexibility to fill in the gaps when renewable output is low, ensuring a constant and stable electricity supply. Additionally, gas-fired plants can ramp up quickly to meet demand and are more responsive than coal, making them ideal partners for intermittent energy sources.

It is noteworthy that the infrastructure built for natural gas today, such as pipelines and generation facilities, can even be repurposed to carry cleaner fuels like green hydrogen. This synergy allows African countries to continue scaling up renewables with confidence, knowing that natural gas is there to provide reliability, bridge energy gaps, and support the transition toward a low-carbon future.

Natural gas has been a key transitional energy source worldwide. In Africa, its role is even more critical. The continent has vast gas reserves, yet much of its potential remains untapped due to limited infrastructure investment and regulatory uncertainty. If developed strategically, natural gas can drive industrial growth, strengthen energy security, and create the capacity needed for long-term investment in renewable energy. However, unlocking this potential requires coordinated action.

Expanding gas infrastructure requires long-term investment in pipelines, processing plants, and export terminals, which take years to build. Investors need policy clarity and predictable returns, so governments must offer stable tax structures, licensing agreements, and local value retention policies to keep revenues in African economies.

Africa’s energy future must grow in a way that works for its people. Electricity must remain accessible for homes, businesses, and industries while innovative technologies develop. This is not a choice between gas and renewables - it is about using the right tools at the right time. Natural gas is a cornerstone of an orderly and just transition.

With careful planning, natural gas can support Africa’s economy today while building the foundation for a cleaner, more resilient future.

The writer of the article is Adrian Strydom, chief executive officer of the South African Oil and Gas Alliance

US might help fill South Africa's LNG supply gap. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

South Africa has proposed importing liquefied natural gas from the United States over a 10-year period, likely affected by the US' President Donald Trump's tough tariff measures

The development was announced via a document signed by Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. It said that South Africa's import limits range around 75 to 100 mn cu/m of LNG per year from the US which remains the leading LNG exporter.

This move is believed to unlock for South Africa approximately US$900mn to US$1.2bn in trade per annum and US$9bn to US$12billion for 10 years based on applicable price.

The arrangement was presented by South Africa during President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent visit to the White House.

Ntshavheni, who was part of the government delegation to Washington, said that South Africa is keen on a US collaboration in technologies, including fracking, to advance gas production in South Africa. 

While Mozambique currently serves as South Africa's primary source of gas import, its supply reliability might not remain as solid down the line. The potential deal with the US can help fill this gap.

South Africa is said to have considerable gas resources in the Karoo region, but it remains off limits by a moratorium on shale gas exploration due to environmental concerns. 

"(South Africa) and the US will negotiate an arrangement to facilitate LNG imports from the US at the appropriate price. This will not replace our current suppliers of gas but complement those supplies," said Ntshavheni.

Secunda ensures enhanced power supply to the national grid. (Image source: Sasol)

Advancing the modernisation of its Secunda power plant in Mpumalanga, Sasol has ensured enhanced reliability of power supply to the national grid

The energy and chemical company had employed manufacturing firm, GE Vernova, to replace the existing pre-combustor system with a new DLN1+ combustor supplemented by the Fuel Gas Module (FGM) skid. This gave a boost to operational efficiency of the two installed 9E gas turbines, while also reducing carbon emissions. Each gas turbine has been emitting approximately 10,000 metric tons less CO₂ since the replacement.

The new combustor has reduced NOx emissions by three quarters from previous levels. 

The DLN technology has markedly reduced water consumption. 

The modernised plant requires comparatively lesser maintenance, reducing downtime and operational costs.

"This project exemplifies our purpose to electrify the world," said Joseph Anis, president and CEO of GE Vernova's Gas Power business in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. "Building on our advanced combustion technologies, we are helping Sasol address South Africa’s energy needs more efficiently. Together, we are demonstrating how advanced technologies can deliver tangible benefits for both businesses and communities."

Chariot will operate the Lixus and Rissana Offshore licences. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Chariot has assumed operatorship with a 75% working interest in both the Lixus Offshore and Rissana Offshore licences, with ONHYM keeping its 25% stake 

This comes as Energean completes the transfer of their wholly owned subsidiary which held 45% and 37.5% respectively in the Lixus Offshore and Rissana Offshore licences.

The Lixus Offshore licence includes the Anchois gas field where Chariot is heavily invested. Following the drilling of three wells from the field, which did not perform according to expectations, Chariot still hopes to leverage multiple good quality gas bearing reservoirs that were found in the main B sand appraisal interval.

The operatorship will give Chariot greater scope to progress the licence work programmes along with ONHYM to further assess the Anchois development plan based on discovered resources.

Adonis Pouroulis, CEO of Chariot, said, “We are pleased to have completed the transfer of these licences and regained operatorship as we see material value within our diversified Moroccan position, both offshore and onshore. The Anchois gas discovery still offers the potential for a rescaled development and our next steps are to scope this based on the core resources found in the three wells underpinned by our previous work on engineering design, environmental and regulatory approvals, project financing and gas sales. Gas market fundamentals in Morocco are robust with strong gas demand and excellent fiscal terms and we will look to work with all stakeholders, including our partner ONHYM and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development to advance these important domestic projects.”