Letter from Africa: Region poised for a gas revolution
This time feels different for Africa as it looks to deliver on its gas promise and potential
Reflecting on African gas production in recent decades, with a focus on the sub-Saharan regions, we can see signs of great promise interrupted by one frustrating hindrance after another. We have seen the emergence of Nigeria’s reserves as the continent’s largest and the country’s establishment of the first LNG plant in 1999 followed by others in Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Cameroon. And there have been the frustrations of technological limitations, regulatory setbacks and political instabilities that have impeded industry growth throughout Africa over the decades. Today, we are in a period marked by both promise and potential roadblocks. As we are now focused on efforts such as ending the
Also in this section
5 March 2026
Gas is a central pillar of Colombia’s energy system, but declining production poses a significant challenge, and LNG will be increasingly needed as a stopgap. A recent major offshore gas discovery offers hope, but policy improvements are also required, Camilo Morales, secretary general of Naturgas, the Colombian gas association, tells Petroleum Economist
4 March 2026
The continent’s inventories were already depleted before conflict erupted in the Middle East, causing prices to spike ahead of the crucial summer refilling season
4 March 2026
The US president has repeatedly promised to lower gasoline prices, but this ambition conflicts with his parallel aim to increase drilling and could be upended by his war against Iran
4 March 2026
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following US-Israel strikes and Iran’s retaliatory escalation, Fujairah has become the region’s critical pressure release valve—and is now under serious threat






