Africa’s energy investments in 2026 are poised to reflect not just increased capacity, but strategic changes in how the continent addresses global demand, geopolitics, and domestic priorities. From deep-sea gas expansion to renewable energy and export infrastructure, these five trends will define how capital flows, how projects are structured, and how Africa is positioned in the global energy conversation.
Growth of LNG and gas amid global supply changes
African gas projects are receiving unprecedented attention as Europe and Asia scramble to diversify supplies from Russia and the Middle East. The continent’s growing LNG export infrastructure and upstream gas development are central to this change. In December 2025, Angola commissioned its first non-associated gas project, the Soyogas Processing Plant, producing approximately 400 million cubic feet per day of Angolan LNG and demonstrating rapid monetization to meet export demand. Mozambique’s Coral Norte FLNG has also reached a final investment decision for a $7.2 billion facility that will add 3.6 million tonnes of liquefaction capacity per year in late 2025, effectively doubling the country’s production when it comes online around 2028. These developments highlight how African producers are responding to global calls for diversification by positioning gas as a reliable export commodity, capturing long-term demand interest and creating a revenue stream to fund further energy development.
Mega oil projects and exploration drive upstream capital
While gas has come to the forefront, investment in oil remains significant, particularly in remote basins and deepwater, supporting long-term industry confidence. Total Energy and its partners plan to license the development of the Venus field in Namibia’s Orange Basin in 2026, representing a major deepwater investment in Africa’s relatively new oil frontier. Shell agreed this month to acquire a 35% interest in offshore Angola blocks 49 and 50 from Chevron, a move that symbolizes the European major’s continued commitment to upstream assets in Africa as part of its diversified portfolio. These investments, supported by regulatory reforms and competitive fiscal conditions designed to attract and retain foreign direct investment, reflect confidence in Africa’s oil and gas prospects even as the broader energy transition unfolds.
Expanding renewable energy through business scale and hybrid projects
Renewable energy continues to expand across Africa, moving beyond small-scale distributed systems to utility-grade wind, solar and hybrid projects that attract institutional investors and support the power grid. South Africa’s 330 MW Impov wind farm complex (scheduled to start operating around 2026) is one of Southern Africa’s largest private renewable projects to be integrated into the Eskom grid, with support from Enel Green Power. The Otani hybrid power plant, which combines 155 MW of solar power, 86 MW of wind power, and a 92 MW/242 MWh energy storage system, is also scheduled to come online by the end of 2026, demonstrating investors’ appetite for a diversified clean portfolio. These projects not only align with climate action, but also improve bankability, secure long-term contracts and attract green finance.
Cross-border infrastructure projects integrate markets
Investments target regional integration beyond siled national systems, enabling cross-border power trading, grid stability, and deeper market liquidity. A memorandum of understanding for a 1,150-kilometre interconnection between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo could help expand power interchange across southern and central Africa and strengthen the case for electrification financing. Meanwhile, as Africa’s longest heated crude oil pipeline nears completion in 2026, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline embodies multi-jurisdictional infrastructure essential for upstream exports and regional economic integration. These projects strengthen energy security, deepen markets, and improve the risk profile for institutional investors seeking scalable returns.
Strategic export infrastructure expands supply chain
African countries are also investing in export terminals, ports and processing infrastructure to capture more value from the diversification of global supplies. Morocco plans to open the Nador West Mediterranean deepwater port in 2026, which will also include the country’s first LNG terminal and green hydrogen export capabilities, signaling North Africa’s intention to strengthen its energy-related supply chain. In Mozambique, partnerships including Petromoc and Nigeria’s Aiteo are developing modular refining efforts to increase local processing capacity and reduce dependence on imported fuel. These efforts demonstrate a clear focus on not just producing energy, but also moving and converting it efficiently. This is a critical factor for investors assessing long-term infrastructure value.
