Africa to double its share of global natural gas supply by 2050 — report

Africa’s gas share in the global market will increase from 6% of all gas supplies in 2021 to over 11% by 2050, according to a report by Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

Gas production in the continent is forecast to increase from 260bn cubic meters in 2021, to 585bn cubic meters in 2050, on the back of the maximal exploitation of local energy resources by governments. This will make Africa responsible for the second largest growth in gas supply, by volume, globally, after the Middle East during the period. From Africa, the GECF report features Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Mozambique, and Nigeria. The demand for natural gas in the continent will rise by 82% by 2050, and gas will account for 30% of Africa’s energy mix. With renewables, gas will be crucial in driving energy access across Africa.

The production of natural gas in Africa will have two positive effects on the continent: it will help alleviate energy poverty and also be key to its economic growth. Africa’s population is expected to increase from 1.4 billion to 2.5 billion by 2050, increasing the demand for resources, among them energy. With about 900 million people in need of clean cooking fuels and another 600 million in need of reliable electricity, natural gas will play a key function in alleviating energy poverty. Increased investment in Africa’s rich gas reserves and the revival of LNG, especially for exports, will facilitate the achievement of the projections. The increase of African LNG export capacity will be driven by Mauritania, Senegal, Mozambique, and Nigeria, with the latter two countries contributing the lion’s share or more than 63% of Africa’s natural gas output.