Letter from Paris: Africa eyes future fuelled by oil and gas
A recent industry forum highlights how developing nations see hydrocarbons very differently from some in the West
The mood at the Invest in African Energy Forum in Paris at the start of June was broadly both defiant and optimistic. On stage and on the sidelines, African oil ministers, NOC officials and private sector executives all continued to emphasise the disparity between the continent’s still-vast hydrocarbon resources and regional energy poverty, and criticised Western environmentalists for their opposition to new oil and gas developments in Africa. Ugandan lawyer Elison Karuhanga, a partner at Kampala Associated Advocates, was passionate and eloquent in his defence of Africa being allowed to develop its hydrocarbon resources. Karuhanga emphasises that 600mn Africans lack access to electricity, wh
Also in this section
6 February 2026
The long close relationship between key supplier Qatar and pivotal buyer Japan becomes even deeper following new landmark deal
6 February 2026
Partnerships across the LNG value chain have evolved over time, growing in both complexity and importance, according to panellists at LNG2026
6 February 2026
Nigeria's mega-refinery is still trying to solve many challenges, all while its owner talks up expansion
5 February 2026
While broadly supportive of EU efforts to tackle methane emissions, representatives of the gas industry warn it could deter supply contracting if timelines and compliance requirements are not made more pragmatic






