AEC to launch 2027 African energy outlook at AEW 2026
The report, produced by the AEC in collaboration with S&P Global Energy and drawing on S&P Global Energy data, will be launched during the October 12–16 event
KAMPALA, October 8, 2026 — The African Energy Chamber [AEC] is set to launch its State of African Energy 2027 Outlook Report during African Energy Week [AEW] 2026 in Cape Town, highlighting emerging investment opportunities and infrastructure priorities across the continent’s energy sector.
The report, produced by the AEC in collaboration with S&P Global Energy and drawing on S&P Global Energy data, will be launched during the October 12–16 event.
It comes as Africa faces changing global energy markets, renewed investment in oil and gas production and rising demand for reliable electricity.
Upstream investment enters new phase
According to the report, Africa’s upstream oil sector is entering a period of cautious investment recovery, with hydrocarbon production projected to reach about 11 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2027 before increasing to 12.5 million bpd by 2030.
Deepwater exploration is expected to remain a key driver of growth, particularly in frontier and emerging basins, while mature producers face declining output and ageing infrastructure.
The report also points to changes in ownership of oil and gas assets as international oil companies streamline their portfolios and African independents expand their presence.
Companies including Seplat, Oando and Assala are acquiring assets, while regional financial institutions, Middle Eastern investors and Asian national oil companies are emerging as alternative sources of capital for African energy projects.
Gas takes on wider domestic role
Africa has more than 550 trillion cubic feet of known gas resources and accounted for about 9% of global liquefied natural gas [LNG] volumes in 2025, according to the report.
The Outlook identifies LNG, pipelines, domestic consumption and gas-to-power projects as key avenues for monetising the continent’s gas resources.
It also examines South Africa and Mozambique as case studies in the development of LNG import markets, while assessing Libya’s gas resources, infrastructure and regulatory reforms.
The AEC argues that greater domestic use of gas could support electricity generation and industrialisation while creating additional economic value within African economies.
Rising power demand creates opportunities
Africa’s electricity deficit remains a major constraint on economic development, with about 565 million people lacking access to electricity.
The report identifies population growth, urbanisation and expanding digital infrastructure as drivers of electricity demand and highlights distributed generation, microgrids, gas-fired power, renewable energy and regional power pools as areas with investment potential.
More than 500 gigawatts [GW] of potential renewable capacity is reportedly at the conceptual planning stage, creating opportunities for investment in solar and wind projects.
The report says investment in transmission infrastructure, independent power projects and cross-border electricity trading will also be critical to converting Africa’s generation potential into reliable electricity supplies.
Critical minerals gain strategic importance
Critical minerals are another area identified by the report as having significant investment and industrial potential.
Africa’s reserves of copper, cobalt, lithium, manganese, platinum-group metals [PGMs] and graphite are attracting interest from China, the United States, Europe and other emerging economies seeking to secure supply chains.
The AEC says African countries need to move beyond the extraction of raw minerals by developing refining, processing and manufacturing capacity.
Such investment could enable resource-rich countries to retain a greater share of the value generated from their mineral resources while supporting major infrastructure initiatives, including the Lobito Corridor and the Trans-Guinean railway.
Energy access remains central
The Outlook places energy access, resource development and infrastructure investment at the centre of Africa’s energy future, while stressing the need for commercially viable projects to attract the capital required to develop the continent’s resources.
The report is expected to provide investors, policymakers and industry stakeholders with an assessment of developments across hydrocarbons, gas, electricity, renewables and critical minerals.
Its launch at AEW 2026 will bring together the latest projections on Africa’s energy markets and investment prospects as the continent seeks to expand energy access while attracting capital for new projects.
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