AEW 2025: the G20 commits to energy in Africa and the fight against energy poverty

African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 is set to be a flagship event for the continent's energy future. Recognised as the largest gathering of players in the African energy sector, this year's event will host the G20 forum on energy investment in Africa, a strategic meeting that promises to attract a new wave of international investment.

This ground-breaking forum will bring together government leaders, policy-makers, industrialists and foreign investors to explore investment opportunities in Africa's oil, gas, mining and renewable energy sectors. Through high-level discussions, the signing of agreements and round tables, the event aims to mobilise the resources needed to eliminate energy poverty in Africa by 2030, while accelerating the continent's energy transition.

AEW 2025 will take place against a backdrop of renewal for the African energy sector, supported by a number of major projects. Among them, the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project between Senegal and Mauritania recently produced its first volumes of gas, with a first cargo expected in the first quarter of 2025. Once fully operational, the first phase of this project will supply 2.3 million tonnes of LNG per year.

Mozambique, meanwhile, is relaunching its ambitious Mozambique LNG project, in partnership with TotalEnergies and Mitsui & Co, despite delays due to security concerns. At the same time, the country is making progress on the Area 4 LNG project, with estimated reserves of 85,000 billion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, led by ExxonMobil.

The $5 billion East African crude oil pipeline is also progressing, with a completion rate of 47%. Once operational in 2026, this pipeline will transport around 6.5 billion barrels of crude oil from Uganda to world markets.

In 2025, several African countries will be launching ambitious calls for tender to boost their energy production.
- Libya: 22 onshore and offshore exploration blocks will be proposed, with the aim of doubling oil production within five years.
- Algeria: Six onshore blocks to be opened up via production sharing contracts.
- Mauritania: 15 offshore blocks to be auctioned, attracting interest from giants such as BP and TotalEnergies.
- Angola: Up to 10 offshore blocks in the Kwanza and Benguela basins will be offered as part of a six-year licensing strategy.

These initiatives offer unique opportunities for investors and operators to participate in the development of Africa's energy resources while meeting the growing demand for reliable energy.

The G20 Forum during AEW 2025 will be an unprecedented opportunity for the world's largest economies to work with African countries in strategic partnerships. The event will focus on investing in sustainable projects, stabilising energy markets and improving global energy security.

With its vast natural resources and ambitions for growth, Africa is poised to play a central role in the world's future energy landscape. AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 promises to catalyse discussions and actions that will define the trajectory of the continent's energy development for years to come.