With the growing need to make energy poverty a part of history, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) announced the launch of the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum on 21 November 2025. The forum, to be held at the Southern Santon in Johannesburg, South Africa, will delve into strategic themes ranging from oil production to natural gas development, clean cooking, nuclear power and affordable energy, and explore the potential for foreign investment in energy in Africa.
Africa’s energy sector is currently at a critical juncture. Facing both an energy crisis and a climate crisis, the continent requires significant investments to strengthen energy access while promoting a just and inclusive energy transition. Many countries across the continent are emphasizing the value of an integrated approach to achieving these goals, in which oil and gas plays a fundamental role. For Africa, oil and gas production will continue to form the basis of the continent’s development and will stabilize at 11.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026. By 2030, production will increase to 13.6 million barrels per day, highlighting the role oil will play in Africa. Africa’s energy demand is expected to quadruple by 2040, and the upcoming G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum will provide a platform for Africa’s oil countries to secure investment while addressing key challenges such as access to finance.
As Africa seeks low-carbon energy solutions, natural gas is emerging as a driver for both energy access and industrialization. Current estimates indicate that Africa has more than 620 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven gas reserves, with ongoing exploration activities expected to uncover trillions more. Many countries across the continent are positioning gas as an economic driver, recognizing its role as both a source of electricity generation and a clean cooking solution. 250 GW of additional electricity capacity is needed between now and 2030 to meet the expected increase in demand, and gas has emerged as one of the fastest routes to achieving this goal. Countries such as Angola, Libya, Algeria, Republic of Congo and Nigeria are working to increase gas production, while emerging producers such as Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia are looking for partners to advance their development. Just this month, South Africa announced plans to lift a long-standing moratorium on shale gas exploration, a significant step towards releasing an estimated 200 tcf of gas in the Karoo Basin.
Beyond electricity generation, natural gas is emerging as an important fuel for clean cooking. With more than 900 million people in Africa living without access to clean cooking solutions, there is a significant opportunity to leverage robust infrastructure and strong global collaboration to expand reliable and affordable LPG solutions across the continent. The International Energy Agency indicates that Africa will need $37 billion in cumulative investment by 2040 to achieve universal access to clean cooking, highlighting that investment opportunities exist for LPG across the continent. The G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum will explore the impact of clean cooking solutions such as LPG in Africa. These discussions will build on recent developments, including the US Department of Energy’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with African countries across the clean cooking industry, championed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright. This commitment, made at the Clean Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Busan in 2025, creates a new path for U.S.-Africa cooperation.
The G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum will also explore viable pathways to advance alternative energy solutions such as hydropower, geothermal and nuclear power. South Africa currently has Africa’s only operating nuclear power facility, but developments in other countries present potential for future investment. Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya are pursuing their own nuclear projects, and South Africa has introduced plans to deploy an additional 5.2GW of nuclear capacity over the next few years. The International Atomic Energy Agency predicts that nuclear power use in Africa will increase by 58% by 2030, highlighting the scale of potential investment.
“Our message as we engage with the G20 is simple: Africa needs common sense energy policy, not ideology. We need funding to help Africans build power plants, pipelines and refineries, not roadblocks that keep our people in the dark. The G20 must champion a pragmatic approach that balances growth and sustainability and puts Africa’s priorities at the forefront,” said AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk.
The next forum will be held following the Africa Energy Week “Investing in Africa Energy 2025” conference. During the event, G20 countries participated in the Global Energy Leaders Forum to explore viable pathways for global cooperation and investment in Africa’s energy sector. The G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum will serve as a springboard for future deals and partnerships as the continent prepares for the 2026 event.
Register for the forum at https://energychamber.org/join-the-african-energy-chamber-at-the-g20-africa-energy-investment-forum/.
