OPEC Secretary General Haitham al-Ghais at Africa Energy Week in 2022
Letter from Paris: Do not underestimate ‘Afripec’
Make no mistake, Africa has a crucial and increasingly important role within OPEC, even given its relatively small production volumes and the departure of Angola
The importance of Africa to OPEC was in clear evidence at the Invest in African Energy event in Paris in May. OPEC Secretary General Haitham al-Ghais sent out a strong message around the crucial partnership that was backed up by a team of experts talking up the role of hydrocarbons in Africa’s long-term future. The conclusion is clear: Africa will likely rinse every last drop of oil from its continent for production and continue consuming when others become too squeamish because of climate goals. Ghais did not mince his words. “OPEC is here today in Paris in full force because we are an integral part of Africa, and Africa is an integral part of OPEC.” By 2045, the continent’s oil demand is
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
