Energy Addition, Not Transition: Africa’s Gas Potential Takes Centre Stage

Africa’s natural gas sector is entering a transformative phase, driven by rising global energy demand, expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) investments, and major discoveries across the continent, according to Paul Eardley-Taylor, Gas Sector Lead at Standard Bank.

Speaking at the 2026 Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) in Lagos, Eardley-Taylor said global energy consumption continues to grow steadily, reinforcing the critical role natural gas will play in powering future economic development.

He noted that global energy demand has consistently increased over decades, with only brief declines during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, this trend confirms that the world is experiencing an “energy addition” rather than an energy transition, as demand for multiple energy sources continues to expand.

“There is no such thing as the energy transition. There is only an energy addition. More energy is required each and every year in normal sets of circumstances,” he said, stressing that the continent’s relatively low energy consumption per capita highlights both its development challenges and its long-term growth potential.

Eardley-Taylor explained that natural gas currently accounts for about a quarter of global energy supply, while LNG remains one of the fastest-growing energy segments worldwide. Global LNG demand has risen sharply in recent years, with more than 200 million tonnes of new LNG capacity currently under construction, a development expected to accelerate international gas trade and open new markets.

He highlighted Africa’s expanding role in this growth, pointing to emerging LNG projects in Mozambique, Senegal, Gabon, Congo, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the continued importance of established exporters such as Nigeria and Algeria. Technological advances, including floating LNG and floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), are also enabling smaller and new gas markets to participate in LNG trade.

Mozambique, he said, is positioned to become one of the world’s major LNG producers, with multiple projects expected to significantly boost output by 2030. If current developments proceed as planned, the country could rival Nigeria in LNG production over the next decade, creating a competitive but mutually beneficial expansion of African export capacity.

Across the continent, several countries are strengthening gas development strategies. Namibia is emerging as a promising new upstream destination following major offshore discoveries, while Angola is implementing a comprehensive gas master plan to monetise its estimated 30 trillion cubic feet of gas resources. Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are also expanding gas infrastructure to support industrial growth and electricity generation.

In Nigeria, Eardley-Taylor noted that expanding pipeline infrastructure, increasing gas production, and implementing the recently released Gas Master Plan will be critical to unlocking the country’s full potential. He emphasised the need for improved pricing frameworks, infrastructure expansion, and stronger alignment across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors to support sustainable growth.

He added that, because Africa has limited demand for gas-based heating compared with colder regions, gas-to-power, industrial use, and transportation applications will be central to driving gas utilisation across the continent.

Overall, he said, the combination of growing global demand, new LNG technologies, and expanding African reserves positions the continent to become an increasingly influential player in the global gas market over the coming decades.