Africa’s push to monetise its vast natural gas reserves is being constrained by weak regional transportation networks, according to the African Energy Chamber’s State of African Energy 2026 Outlook. The continent holds more than 550 trillion cubic feet of undeveloped gas, with demand projected to rise by 60 percent by 2050, yet limited pipelines and transport corridors mean much of this resource remains stranded.
Major reserves in Nigeria’s Niger Delta and Mozambique’s Rovuma Basin underline the scale of the opportunity. While LNG export capacity has expanded, domestic industrial use and gas to power projects remain restricted by poor connectivity, regulated low prices and inadequate processing infrastructure. As global LNG markets grow more competitive, these bottlenecks risk eroding Africa’s advantage.
The Chamber warned that unlocking value will require sustained investment in pipelines, processing facilities and cross border links. Balancing affordability with investor returns, it said, is critical if gas is to underpin Africa’s energy transition and industrial growth.
