Why Africa’s resource strategy needs rapid policy shift

• In Paris forum, energy chiefs seek an “integrated development of energy systems” on Africa’s resource wealth that balances affordability, sustainability and sovereignty.
• This push comes even as consensus grows that Africa’s energy mix must be as diverse as its development challenges.
• Captains of industry note that governments must move faster, cut through bureaucracy, and treat natural gas not as a waiting game, but as the bridge to affordable, inclusive, and sustainable energy systems.

The question of how to better harness Africa’s resource sustainably has seen industry chiefs from the continent suggest plans that could help different needs at the speed of need. “We don’t have the luxury of time,” declared Energean CEO Mathios Rigas, throwing down a gauntlet to African leaders, investors, and energy players at the closing session of the Invest in African Energy Forum.

Rigas wasn’t merely issuing a plea; he was unveiling a blueprint. A proven model — honed through $3 billion worth of investments in the Mediterranean — that could unlock Africa’s vast untapped gas reserves and transform the continent’s energy fortunes. But there’s a catch: it requires bold decisions, now. Governments must move faster, cut through bureaucracy, and treat natural gas not as a waiting game, but as the bridge to affordable, inclusive, and sustainable energy systems.

As global energy dynamics shift and partnerships realign, Africa is no longer a frontier — it’s the fulcrum. The time for cautious optimism has passed. For Africa to power its future and attract serious capital, ambition must meet action — and that means betting big on its own resources before someone else does.

His comments were nuanced by Tim Gould, Chief Energy Economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA), who emphasized the need for a balanced and pragmatic approach to Africa’s energy development.

“There’s extraordinary untapped potential, given the richness of the renewable resource across many parts of Africa. But we also recognize that the conversation about Africa’s development cannot end with renewables,” said Gould. “For the IEA, energy security is our core mandate. We don’t see security and sustainability at opposite ends of the spectrum.”

Africa’s resource energy mix must be as diverse as its development challenges

This framing underscored a growing consensus that Africa’s energy mix must be as diverse as its development challenges, with Gould calling for “integrated development of energy systems” that balance affordability, sustainability and sovereignty.

Namibia’s Petroleum Commissioner Maggy Shino offered a compelling national perspective, highlighting how the country’s nascent oil sector could be a springboard for economic transformation, particularly through the development of specialized skills and long-term industrial capacity.

“We are going to establish Lüderitz as an energy hub – that’s where we’re putting the infrastructure to evacuate the green hydrogen we will produce in Namibia, as well as the infrastructure for developing the petrochemical industry,” she said.

Shino emphasized that resource revenues should be leveraged strategically to build the country’s future, not just to meet short-term needs. “We are at a time where Africa should move away from using revenues from resources to address the problems of today. They should be used as seed capital to grow the future.”

Cheick-Omar Diallo, Leader Task Force Communication and Spokesperson for TotalEnergies on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, defended the development as a sovereign decision by Uganda and Tanzania, emphasizing the company’s efforts to uphold environmental standards, minimize displacement and ensure local benefits.

Addressing biodiversity and community concerns

“We want to be a responsible operator – that means producing to the highest standards while addressing biodiversity and community concerns,” said Diallo. “This was not just a TotalEnergies project – it was a sovereign decision by Uganda and Tanzania. Once that decision is made, the question is how to implement it responsibly. We avoided sensitive areas along the pipeline route, and while displacement is never ideal, it is a reality of infrastructure projects.”

The panel marked a fitting conclusion to the forum, blending urgency, realism and ambition. While global players like Energean and the IEA called for speed and pragmatism, African leaders insisted that the path forward must be driven by national priorities and long-term value creation.

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