Yemisi Izuora
Global Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) supply is set to reach record level from 2027, driven by new projects and expanded production in the U.S., Qatar, and key African producers such as Nigeria, Algeria and Morocco.
According to Bloomberg’s Global LNG Market Outlook 2030, global supply reaching 594 million tons by 2030—a 42 per cent increase from 2024—with a projected 15-million-ton oversupply in international markets.
While geopolitical risks and potential project delays could alter this outlook, the prospect of a sustained LNG surplus raises a pressing question for Africa: how can the continent strengthen domestic gas value chains to shield itself from global market volatility?
Recent developments indicate progress toward a more integrated African gas economy.
Nigeria is expanding cross-border and power generation infrastructure as captured by the report.
Major pipeline projects include the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, spanning 13 West African states, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline connecting Nigeria to Algeria, and the $1.5 billion Mozambique-Zambia pipeline announced in 2025.
Also, LNG terminals designed for domestic and regional access are under construction at Richards Bay in South Africa and the Port of Nador in Morocco. Ethiopia recently signed a landmark agreement to advance the Gas-by-Rail Economic Corridor Initiative, a 75,000-kilometre freight railway system set to deliver LNG to more than 40 sub-Saharan nations.
Senegal is developing a multi-phase gas network linking offshore production to power plants, industrial zones, and urban centres, while Ghana plans five multi-purpose petrochemical plants producing 90,000 barrels per day of chemicals, including fertilisers and lubricants.
A continental push toward gas-to-power is increasingly evident, backed by policy reforms and initiatives to expand electricity access.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC ) outlook projects natural gas supplying 45 per cent of Africa’s power by 2050.
Countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Angola, Senegal, Ghana, and Mozambique have incorporated gas-to-power targets into national strategies, aiming to translate rising production into reliable electricity, cleaner cooking solutions, and broader economic growth.
“Export projects alone will not secure Africa’s energy future. Strategic investment in gas infrastructure is what will determine whether rising production translates into electricity access, industrial capacity, and economic resilience,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.
With domestic gas demand increasing, infrastructure projects underway, and export markets becoming increasingly competitive, African Energy Week 2026 will serve as a strategic platform to reposition gas not merely as an export commodity but as a foundation for long-term energy security, industrial development, and inclusive growth across the continent
Africa’s natural gas production is on the rise, with multiple LNG projects under development across the continent.
Currently, North Africa—including Algeria and Morocco—accounts for two-thirds of Africa’s gas output, but the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC) State of African Energy 2026 Outlook projects this share falling to 40 per cent by 2035 as sub-Saharan production accelerates.
By 2050, sub-Saharan LNG supply could quadruple, while African gas demand is expected to grow 60 per cent, from 55 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2020 to 90 bcm.
Despite this growth, the majority of Africa’s gas continues to be exported. Limited pipeline networks, underdeveloped transmission systems, and inadequate processing and storage infrastructure prevent gas from reaching domestic markets.
Consequently, LNG exports remain the most viable monetisation route, supported by international offtake contracts and financing structures. Domestic infrastructure projects often face financing challenges, as patient capital, government backing, and credit enhancements are required—factors more readily available for export-focused LNG developments.
Analysts argue that closing this gap will require an infrastructure-led strategy linking production to domestic pipelines, power generation, and regional interconnections.