Ekpo calls for stronger regional cooperation to unlock Africa's gas resources
Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), recently emphasized the need for innovative financing models and stronger private sector participation to unlock Africa's gas potential. The call was made at a Ministerial Roundtable on Regional Gas Development and Cooperation in Africa in Abuja, which brought together key stakeholders to advance the implementation of the Decade of Gas initiative.
Africa holds over 600 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, yet millions of people lack access to electricity, and millions rely on traditional fuels for cooking. Ekpo stressed that regional cooperation must form the foundation of Africa's energy strategy, citing Nigeria's experience with cross-border gas projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.
To scale progress, Ekpo identified four priority areas, including the development of integrated regional gas markets, expansion of gas-to-power and clean cooking initiatives, mobilisation of climate-aligned financing, and harmonisation of policy and regulatory frameworks. He also underscored the importance of regulatory alignment across countries to attract investment and accelerate project delivery.
