Upstream oil and gas operators in Africa are accelerating efforts to integrate renewable, low-carbon energy sources into their production operations. Recent milestones in Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa and the Republic of Congo demonstrate how the continent’s largest operators are incorporating energy diversification into project designs with larger hybrid and gas-to-power systems from 2025 to 2027.
While most renewable energy capacity in Africa is still deployed at utility scale through grid-connected wind, solar and energy storage projects, upstream developers are increasingly adopting hybrid energy strategies to support production and reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions. Collectively, these developments represent a shift towards a commercially competitive and environmentally sound upstream system.
Integrated gas support upstream development
Uganda’s Tilenga development represents one of the continent’s most advanced examples of integrated energy planning in a major upstream project. Operated by energy giant Total Energy and China’s state-owned China National Offshore Petroleum Corporation, Tilenga is designed to have very low Scope 1 and 2 emissions and is targeted to produce first oil by late 2026. The project will use all associated gas to generate electricity for the processing infrastructure, with surplus power fed into both the national grid and the East African Crude Pipeline. Combined with the reinjection of all water produced, Tilenga reflects a new generation of highly efficient upstream assets supported by a robust energy management system.
In Nigeria, integrated gas-to-power solutions continue to strengthen the link between upstream generation and the domestic electricity market. ANOH Gas Development, led by energy companies Seplat Energy and Renaissance Africa Energy, will begin commercial operations in July 2025, delivering approximately 600 million cubic feet of electricity per day and supporting Nigeria’s broader transition. The Iceni gas field, operated by Total Energies in collaboration with British giant Shell and global energy company Nigeria National Oil Company, has already begun supplying gas directly to the Dangote Fertilizer and Petrochemical Plant, providing a dedicated on-site power supply and improving operational stability.
New hybrid models and regional outlook
Broader regional trends suggest that hybrid systems that integrate oil, gas and renewable energy are beginning to take shape in multiple markets. These developments are supported by gas-to-power milestones in the region, such as the 450 MW Temane project in Mozambique (scheduled to come online in 2026), designed to strengthen grid stability and complement renewable energy growth as gas strengthens its position as a transition fuel.
In South Africa, gas exploration company Kinetico Energy’s Amersfoort coalbed methane development will start delivering electricity in stages in 2024, moving towards a long-term capacity target of up to 500 MW for the national grid. At the same time, Total Energies has begun construction of two major renewable facilities in the Northern Cape, a 140MW wind farm and a 120MW solar farm, under a 20-year corporate power purchase agreement with chemical company Sasol’s Secunda complex and gas cylinder supplier Air Liquide’s oxygen production business. Both projects have been under construction since the end of 2024 and are expected to be fully operational by 2026.
The country’s industrial sector provides further insight into how large-scale renewable energy integration can be replicated across upstream operations. A collaboration between global mining company Anglo American and renewable energy company EDF Renewables to develop up to 5GW of wind and solar power capacity by 2030 demonstrates the feasibility of sourcing renewable electricity specifically for heavy industry, making this model increasingly important for oil and gas operators seeking emissions reductions and long-term energy security. Combined with new green hydrogen opportunities in Namibia and Mauritania, these efforts highlight how Africa’s upstream companies are positioning themselves within a diversified and multiple energy future.
