Letter from Africa: The path to net zero requires LNG
Africa’s unique energy access challenges mean LNG will be an essential bridging fuel for the transition
Even as global leaders lined up at Cop26 to affirm their commitment to reaching net zero by 2050, the first energy scare of the ‘green era’ had yet to subside. The recent surge in energy prices exposed the inadequate investment in renewables, and there is a widespread lack of understanding about the transitional use of fossil fuels needed to reach net zero. For African countries—where access to electricity languishes at around 45pc—an answer exists in the form of LNG. More than 600mn Africans did not have access to electricity in 2018, according to the UN Development Programme, and those that do have access often have an unreliable, irregular and expensive supply. Traditional and heavily pol
Also in this section
16 April 2026
Demand for oil is falling because supply cannot meet it, not because it is no longer required
16 April 2026
The continent has an immediate opportunity to make the most of its energy resources by capturing gas that is currently slipping away
15 April 2026
The continent is seeing political pushback to climate plans, corporate reassessment of transition goals and rising supply risk in a fractured global order
15 April 2026
The Middle East energy crisis may turn out to be pivotal to the industry’s long-term expansion, but significant challenges still stand in its way






