Algeria
Sonatrach-Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Research and Development (R&D) Partnership Signals Africa’s Energy Future is Innovation-Led
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Algeria's state-owned oil company Sonatrach and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the auspices of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), formalizing plans for a strategic partnership focused on research, development and innovation (R&D) in the oil and gas sector. Signed in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo - the headquarters of APPO - and in the presence of APPO's recently appointed Secretary General Farid Ghezali, the MoU establishes a framework for assessing joint opportunities, sharing expertise and creating structured working mechanisms to support the development of hydrocarbon resources for energy security and sustainable development across Africa.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomes the agreement and expresses its full support for Sonatrach and GNPC in advancing African-led R&D collaboration. The agreement signifies APPO as not only an instrumental part in facilitating the partnership but a central force in bringing all parties together to ratify this important deal. Under the leadership of Ghezali, APPO continues to showcase its commitment to unifying nations - as well as the broader industry - to reach decisive agreements such as this one. The partnership also reflects a growing recognition among national oil companies (NOC) that innovation, technology and knowledge-sharing are essential to unlocking value, reducing costs and ensuring Africa remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global energy market. The AEC believes that this collaboration is expected to move the entire industry into its next phase of development.
The scope of cooperation outlined in the MoU is both comprehensive and forward-looking. It includes advanced onshore and offshore seismic technologies such as high-definition processing and interpretation, artificial intelligence-enabled subsurface analysis, 4D seismic and real-time reservoir modeling. The agreement also covers digital wells and digital oilfields, enhanced and improved oil recovery, stratigraphic exploration objectives, integrity and corrosion management and oil and gas valorization - capabilities that directly improve recovery rates, extend the life of producing assets and maximize returns from existing infrastructure. The partnership also integrates energy transition and environmental priorities alongside core upstream development. Areas of cooperation include carbon footprint reduction, low-carbon industrial solutions, hydrogen and green technologies, as well as water and waste treatment and air pollution mitigation. This reflects a pragmatic African approach: developing hydrocarbons responsibly while embedding sustainability and emissions management into project design and operations from the outset.
The agreement comes at a critical time for both markets. For Ghana, the MoU signals a commitment to leveraging innovation to revitalize oil production as the nation looks to revive oilfields, diversify the industry through gas and support broader regional energy growth. With 17 oil and gas projects scheduled for development by 2027, Ghana is working to expand exploration, ramp up production and deepen private sector participation. Recent milestones point to a strong resurgence across the market. Just this month, Kosmos Energy announced that it successfully drilled and completed the J-74 well - part of the larger 2025-2026 Jubilee field development campaign. In partnership with the GNPC and Tullow, the company plans to drill 20 wells at Jubilee under a $2 billion upstream expansion plan, five of which are planned for 2026. Alongside oil Ghana is advancing gas developments under efforts to monetize its over 2.1 trillion cubic feet of available resources. Projects such as a planned second processing plant - with a capacity of 150 million standard cubic feet per day - are underway and will complement operational facilities such as the Atuabo Plant.
As one of Africa's biggest oil and gas producers, Algeria is well-positioned to support Ghana's hydrocarbon goals. The country is advancing its own ambitious hydrocarbon strategy, anchored by a five-year plan endorsed by Sonatrach that will mobilize up to $60 billion in investment. The program prioritizes sustained exploration and production to offset natural decline, alongside the modernization and expansion of downstream infrastructure to strengthen value addition, boost export capacity and enhance long-term energy security. Through this strategy, Algeria is reinforcing its role as a continental energy leader while generating technical expertise and operational know-how that can be leveraged through partnerships with peers such as GNPC. By prioritizing R&D, embracing technology and aligning hydrocarbons development with sustainability objectives, Sonatrach and GNPC are setting a strong precedent. The AEC commends both companies and APPO for advancing an African-led model that supports energy security, economic growth and sustainable development across the continent.
“APPO continues to showcase a commitment to advancing Africa's hydrocarbon development. This MoU shows that African NOCs are investing in innovation to secure the continent's energy future. Research and technology are critical to producing oil and gas more efficiently and sustainably, while supporting the broader energy transition. Africa needs oil and gas to develop, and partnerships like this ensure those resources deliver long-term value for our people,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Frontier Exploration Renaissance: How New Seismic Technology Is Unlocking Africa’s Undeveloped Basins
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Recent months have witnessed a surge in seismic data deals and renewed exploration activity across Africa. In November 2025, TGS, a leader in energy data and intelligence, secured rights to market and license offshore geophysical data for Comoros, granting explorers access to over 10,000 line‑kilometers of modern SPAN 2D seismic data. This agreement builds on ongoing initiatives in East Africa, including an extended mandate with Somalia's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources covering offshore basins.
Seismic campaigns are also accelerating elsewhere. In mid‑2025, Sierra Leone announced plans for a new 3D seismic acquisition in its offshore basin, marking the most active upstream effort there in over a decade. In parallel, older seismic data are being reprocessed in the southern reaches of the basin ahead of expected drilling next year.
On Africa's larger offshore frontier, legacy basins in Southern Africa are regaining focus. In Angola, seismic reprocessing and new data acquisition across the Kwanza and Lower Congo basins – including both 2D and 3D surveys – are laying the groundwork for upcoming licensing rounds. At last year's African Energy Week (AEW) conference, TotalEnergies and Chevron emphasized the critical role of advanced seismic imaging and faster permit approvals in unlocking frontier basins, citing Namibia's Orange Basin discovery as proof of concept. The “Venus” well, for example, reportedly had a success probability above 50% – a remarkable figure for what had previously been considered frontier acreage. This kind of success is directly attributable to improved subsurface imaging and the increasing availability of high-quality seismic and geological data.
These developments signal a shift from speculative frontier plays toward data-driven decision-making. Expanding multi‑client seismic libraries lowers entry barriers for exploration companies and provides a more nuanced view of subsurface potential. According to the African Energy Chamber's (AEC) 2026 Outlook, while established producing nations such as Algeria, Nigeria, Libya, Egypt and Angola continue to provide the bulk of production, attention is increasingly turning to emerging hotspots, including Ivory Coast, Namibia, Sierra Leone and other frontier basins with favorable fiscal terms. Better seismic coverage reduces geological and financial risk, improves the chances of commercial discovery and enables more informed bidding in upcoming license rounds. In countries like Sierra Leone and Comoros, seismic data may pave the way for the first wells in decades, while in nations with existing offshore infrastructure like Angola, it could trigger a new cycle of exploration, appraisal and production growth.
“Advanced seismic imaging is fundamentally changing the frontier exploration equation in Africa. By combining high-quality 2D and 3D data, reprocessed legacy surveys and more efficient permitting, countries are replacing speculation with certainty. This is how Africa unlocks its undeveloped basins responsibly – by lowering risk, attracting serious long-term capital and ensuring that exploration translates into real projects, real production and real value for African economies,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
As seismic data accumulates and becomes more accessible, exploration dynamics may evolve. Smaller independents and local entities could begin participating more actively, leveraging shared data to assess and bid on promising blocks. Governments may also negotiate more favorable terms thanks to lower risk premiums and clearer geological insight.
Looking ahead to AEW 2026, the seismic-driven renaissance of African basins is likely to be a central theme. The improved subsurface understanding enabled by modern seismic, combined with faster permitting, expanding multi‑client libraries and renewed investor interest, offers a clear path toward unlocking Africa's vast undeveloped hydrocarbon potential.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Turning Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Oversupply into Opportunity: Why Africa’s Gas Future Depends on Infrastructure
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Global LNG supply is set to surge from 2027, driven by new projects and expanded production in the U.S. and Qatar. Bloomberg's Global LNG Market Outlook 2030 forecasts global supply reaching 594 million tons by 2030 – a 42% increase from 2024 – with a projected 15-million-ton oversupply in international markets. While geopolitical risks and potential project delays could shift this balance, the prospect of sustained LNG surplus poses a critical question for Africa: how can the continent strengthen domestic gas value chains to shield itself from global market volatility?
Rising African Demand Constrained by Infrastructure
Africa's natural gas production is rising, with several new LNG projects coming online across the continent. North Africa currently produces two-thirds of the continent's gas, but the African Energy Chamber's (AEC) State of African Energy 2026 Outlook projects this share falling to 40% by 2035 as sub-Saharan output accelerates. By 2050, sub-Saharan LNG supply could quadruple, while African gas demand is expected to grow 60%, from 55 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2020 to 90 bcm.
Despite this growing demand, most gas continues to be exported. The primary bottleneck is infrastructure: limited pipeline networks, underdeveloped transmission systems and insufficient processing and storage prevent gas from reaching domestic markets. As a result, LNG exports remain the most viable monetization route, backed by international offtake contracts and financing structures. Financing constraints further exacerbate the challenge, as domestic infrastructure projects require patient capital, government support and credit enhancements, which are often easier to secure for export-focused LNG developments. Addressing this imbalance will demand an infrastructure-led strategy that aligns production with domestic pipelines, power generation and regional interconnections.
New Projects Signal Momentum
Recent developments suggest positive momentum toward a more integrated African gas economy. In the LNG sector, countries are constructing terminals to support domestic and regional access, including projects at Richards Bay in South Africa and the Port of Nador in Morocco. Earlier this month, Ethiopia signed a landmark agreement to advance the Gas-by-Rail Economic Corridor Initiative, a 75,000-km freight railway system designed to carry LNG to more than 40 sub-Saharan nations, providing direct pathways to high-demand markets.
Cross-border and power generation infrastructure is also expanding. Several major pipeline projects are underway, including the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline traversing 13 West African states, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline connecting Nigeria to Algeria, and the $1.5 billion Mozambique-Zambia pipeline announced in 2025. Senegal is developing a multi-phase gas network linking offshore production to power plants, industrial zones and urban areas, while Ghana plans five multi-purpose petrochemical plants, each producing 90,000 barrels per day of chemicals such as fertilizers and lubricants to support industrial and agricultural sectors.
A continental push toward gas-to-power is increasingly evident, supported by policy reform and efforts to expand electricity access. The AEC outlook projects natural gas supplying 45% of Africa's power by 2050. Countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Angola, Senegal, Ghana and Mozambique have integrated gas-to-power goals into national strategies, aiming to translate rising gas production into reliable electricity, cleaner cooking solutions, and broad-based 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,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
With domestic gas demand rising, infrastructure projects underway and export markets becoming increasingly competitive, African Energy Week 2026 offers a strategic forum 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.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.