At African Energy Week 2026, over $10 billion in energy deals were announced, including gas projects in Nigeria and Angola, but activists protest against fossil fuel expansion.
Major energy deals announced at African Energy Week 2026
At the African Energy Week 2026, held in Cape Town, South Africa, industry stakeholders highlighted agreements worth billions of dollars. Verner Ayukegba, vice president of the African Energy Chamber, stated that $10 billion in deals had already been finalized during the event, with several major projects under discussion.Key projects include oil and gas acquisitions and developments
Among the projects mentioned are EduEnergias' acquisition of Chevron's historical assets in Angola, developments in gas projects in Senegal, and initiatives in Nigeria aimed at strengthening the gas supply for the liquefied natural gas project Train 7. A major gas pipeline project connecting Nigeria to Morocco was also noted as a potential investment opportunity.Industry leaders stress economic benefits of fossil fuel projects
Industry professionals emphasize the economic benefits of oil and gas exploration and production. Godfrey Moagi, general director of South Africa’s national oil company, estimates that these activities can help reduce unemployment. He suggests that the benefits could be even greater if related industries are also developed alongside fossil fuel projects.South Africa calls for regional energy cooperation
South Africa also urged African countries to strengthen energy cooperation to ensure a reliable and affordable energy supply. This call comes amid global geopolitical tensions and market disruptions that have affected energy stability across the continent.Environmental activists protest new oil and gas projects
Outside the summit, environmental activists from Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion protested against new oil and gas projects. They criticized the climate and social impacts of such projects and called for a shift toward renewable energy sources instead.