Amid changing global supply dynamics and evolving demand, the Africa Investment in Energy (IAE) 2026 Forum Paris will host important discussions on “Building Price Resilience by Leveraging Africa’s Domestic Demand”. Rather than simply exporting to increasingly competitive global markets, this panel will consider how African gas producers can direct resources to domestic industrial and power sectors to secure long-term value and more predictable profits.
Global gas demand growth is expected to accelerate in 2026, rising to around 2%, as strong increases in LNG supplies ease difficult market fundamentals, according to the International Energy Agency. This increase is expected to be driven by major export projects in the US, Canada and Qatar. At the same time, trends in commodity prices suggest that gas markets may soon come under downward pressure. The World Bank predicts that global commodity prices, including energy, will plummet in 2026 due to growing oil surpluses and uncertainty. Meanwhile, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum Secretariat, in its gas market outlook, expects title transfer facility (TTF) and Japan/Korea marker gas prices to average around $11 per million BTU in 2026, based on futures contracts.
Particularly in Europe, TTF gas prices are expected to average around €30/MWh in 2026, with summer minimum prices likely to be closer to €26/MWh, partly due to the expansion of new LNG production capacity. S&P Global Commodity Insights also notes that backwardation for summer/winter 2026 gas contracts has strengthened, reflecting expectations that supply will ease later this year.
What this means for Africa is clear. As global gas markets soften, relying solely on exports may become less profitable. By directing gas to power generation, industrial clusters and regional infrastructure, producers can secure demand, stabilize revenues and reduce exposure to volatile global spot markets. For example, Angola’s Kilma and Maboqueiro offshore gas projects balance supply between the national grid and exports. Senegal’s planned Yakar Teranga project focuses on domestic demand. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Escravos-Lagos pipeline system supports industrial and power needs, demonstrating how an integrated domestic strategy can complement export revenues.
At IAE 2026, panels will bring together African energy stakeholders, industrial gas users, utilities and international investors to consider how to build on this domestic demand. Key topics include how gas supply and industrialization strategies can be integrated, how governments and businesses can work together on midstream infrastructure, including pipelines, storage and distributable electricity, and what regulatory and pricing frameworks can support long-term household gas consumption.
For investors, these discussions reflect a huge opportunity. As African countries build their domestic gas markets, the potential for new projects, from gas-fired power plants to cluster-based industrial hubs, becomes more attractive. This forum provides a valuable platform for decision makers to interact directly with the world’s financiers, developers and utilities about where future gas demand will come from.
IAE 2026 is a special forum aimed at connecting African energy markets with global investors and will serve as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to Africa Energy Week. Scheduled for April 22-23, 2026 in Paris, the event will offer participants two days of in-depth interaction with industry experts, project developers, investors and policy makers. For more information, please visit www.invest-africa-energy.com. To become a sponsor or register as a representative, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
