Following the conclusion of Africa Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town earlier this month, where exploration, infrastructure and energy security dominated the agenda, several global players have stepped forward to help deepen Africa’s involvement in the energy sector. Africa’s role as a supplier of hydrocarbons, LNG and transition minerals has taken on new importance as geopolitical competition reshapes global energy flows, making the continent a key arena for energy security, supply diversification and great power investment competition.
United States: Advancing upstream exploration and infrastructure
At AEW, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz called for a revitalization of the U.S. energy presence in Africa, highlighting exploration, production, and midstream infrastructure as the foundation for future engagement, strengthened by a dedicated U.S.-Africa Roundtable. U.S. companies such as ExxonMobil, Kosmos Energy and Chevron are expanding their exploration portfolios in West and East Africa, including deepwater projects in Namibia, Mozambique and Equatorial Guinea.
The US approach reflects a broader strategy to diversify global energy supplies and counter rival influence, particularly from China and Russia. Under a pro-oil administration and a commercially-driven diplomatic strategy, Washington is focusing on lucrative exploration and LNG development opportunities, leveraging private capital along with technology partnerships.
Increased U.S. participation is expected in anticipation of Investing in Energy in Africa (IAE) 2026 in Paris, an important forum where African governments, investors and industry leaders gather to negotiate new projects and build strategic partnerships. Delegations are likely to focus on new acreage tenders, innovative project finance models and joint venture opportunities with Africa’s national oil companies.
Russia: Expanding energy diplomacy through technology transfer
Meanwhile, Russia is pushing ahead with a more comprehensive energy plan for Africa. At the Russia-Africa Roundtable at the AEW, Russian officials emphasized partnerships with Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo, as well as continued cooperation through Rosatom, which leads the country’s nuclear efforts on the African continent. Rosatom is working with Rwanda to establish a nuclear science and technology center and has cooperation agreements with Mali and Guinea-Conakry.
Floating nuclear power units, small modular reactors and integrated gas infrastructure form the backbone of Russia’s energy provision. By combining commercial energy solutions and technology transfer, Moscow aims to help African countries meet growing domestic demand while deepening political and trade ties. At IAE 2026 in Paris, Russia is expected to pursue further cooperation agreements in nuclear and gas power development, reinforcing the country’s ambitions to secure a permanent role across Africa’s energy value chain.
UAE: Introducing sovereign capital for scale and consolidation
The United Arab Emirates takes a long-term approach to energy and infrastructure development in Africa. Emirates sovereign wealth funds, development agencies and energy giants are expanding their footprint in oil and gas, solar, hydrogen and integrated energy logistics. At AEW, Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, invited African countries and energy companies to join the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance, an initiative launched by the UAE to double energy efficiency and accelerate the transition to clean energy. The UAE is financing large-scale solar power and hydrogen projects across North and West Africa through companies such as ADNOC, Masdar and AMEA Power.
More broadly, the UAE has emerged as Africa’s largest external investor, pouring significant capital into clean energy, industrial infrastructure and energy transition initiatives. In Paris, UAE companies are expected to present integrated energy solutions spanning upstream production, renewable energy, power generation and transmission, backed by sovereign capital and long-term regional partnerships.
