The gas is there, the demand is real — but broken policies and fragmented markets are keeping Africa’s energy wealth underground.
More than 180 trillion cubic feet of discovered natural gas across Africa remains untapped because of unaligned fiscal rules, inconsistent regulations and fragmented markets, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has warned.
Speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja, NUPRC boss Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said investors aren’t scared of Africa’s geology — they’re scared of confusing and inconsistent rules.
Her message was clear: Africa needs one regulatory voice. She called for stronger coordination through the African Petroleum Regulators’ Forum (AFRIPERF) to harmonise policies, cut investment risk and fast-track cross-border gas projects.
With 8% of global oil and gas reserves, 30% of critical minerals and a 1.5 billion-strong youthful population, Eyesan said Africa has what it takes — but only policy alignment, integrated infrastructure and shared standards will unlock real industrial growth.
Pointing to success stories like AfCFTA, regional power pools and the West African Gas Pipeline, she urged regulators to deepen cooperation and present a unified African position on global energy and climate platforms.
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