Peter Uzoho
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) has projected that Africa would require up to $115 billion in fuel midstream funding between 2031 and 2040 to rework its 15 trillion cubic metres of pure fuel endowment into reasonably priced and dependable vitality for its individuals.
The Secretary General of GECF and immediate-past Managing Director of NLNG, Dr Philip Mshelbila said this on the Africa Energy Week (AEW) 2026, in Cape Town, South Africa, with the theme: “Invest in African Energies: Affordable and Abundant Energy Additions.”
His presentation captured the continent’s most pressing job of turning assets into vitality that individuals can entry, afford and depend on. He stated almost one in 5 individuals on earth lives in Africa right this moment, but the continent accounts for lower than 6 per cent of world vitality use.
By 2050, Africa is projected to add one other billion individuals to turn out to be residence to one in 4 individuals globally, however will nonetheless eat lower than one-tenth of world vitality.
The continent holds greater than 15 trillion cubic metres of pure fuel, over 8 per cent of world reserves, however that useful resource stays largely unmonetised due to lack of funding and infrastructure, a niche that exposes Africa to vitality, meals and financial shocks.
“Africa could attract up to $115 billion in gas midstream investment between 2031 and 2040 for pipelines, processing facilities, storage, liquefaction and distribution networks needed to connect resources to domestic, regional and international markets. The need comes on top of a wider annual energy investment gap estimated at between $31 billion and $50 billion,” the group stated.
Mshelbila stated undeveloped reserves imply nothing till they’re monetised, noting that 80 per cent of annual capital expenditure since 2019 had gone solely to backfill pure decline, whereas world fuel demand was anticipated to develop 31 per cent by 2055 and 86 per cent of manufacturing by then will come from presently undeveloped assets.
“We define energy security as the sustained ability of the entire energy system to deliver affordable and reliable energy under normal conditions, during crises and as future needs evolve,” he stated.
He argued that pure fuel is greater than a gasoline and greater than a international alternate earner, describing it as the muse for industrialisation, energy stability, fertiliser manufacturing and cleaner cooking.
“For Africa, gas is not merely a transition fuel. It is a transformation fuel. It is a strategic enabler of development and resilience,” he stated, noting that fuel offers baseload and versatile dispatchable energy that stabilises grids and enhances renewables.
Mshelbila outlined 5 priorities to shut the funding hole together with: Increased upstream manufacturing, constructing home and regional infrastructure and interconnectivity, prioritising home and regional worth addition, deploying modern financing with balanced risk-reward and resolving home fuel pricing, and deepening cross-border cooperation.
He cited flagship tasks such because the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline and connections between South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique as crucial to making a pan-African fuel community and energy pool.
He stated whereas Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and pipeline exports generate international forex, the true financial multiplier comes when fuel is processed regionally into fertiliser, plastics, materials and electrical energy, strengthening worth chains, creating jobs and bettering resilience to exterior volatility.
“Africa’s energy future will be built here, by Africans, with partners who share that vision. Africa has the resources. Its people have the ambition. Our collective responsibility is to connect the two through investment, infrastructure and cooperation,” he stated.
He famous that 9 of the discussion board’s 20 member nations are African, making Africa’s priorities the group’s priorities, aligned to Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) and Mission 300 on vitality entry and regional integration.
