CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 26, 2025 – A landmark dialogue between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and African governments is set to headline African Energy Week 2025 in Cape Town.
This exclusive OPEC-Africa Roundtable, co-hosted by the African Energy Chamber (AEC), will bring together ministers, policymakers, and top energy executives to map out a collaborative strategy for Africa’s oil and gas future.
With Africa home to 7.8% of the world’s proven oil reserves and producing 8% of global daily output, the continent has become central to OPEC’s long-term energy strategy.
The discussions at African Energy Week 2025 will focus on unlocking this potential through new investments, modernized infrastructure, and cross-border partnerships that drive industrialization and energy access.
High-Level Representation at AEW 2025
The roundtable will feature OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais alongside energy ministers from Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and South Africa.
Moderated by AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk, the session will provide a rare opportunity for African producers to align their policy frameworks with OPEC’s 2025 vision.
Key priorities include:
Strengthening intra-African collaboration to enhance energy security.
Attracting global financing for upstream oil and gas projects.
Expanding refining and petrochemical capacity.
Integrating natural gas into power generation and industrial growth.
This dialogue underscores the importance of Africa’s resources – over 120 billion barrels of oil and 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – in fueling both regional prosperity and global supply security.
Africa’s Rising Energy Demand
According to OPEC’s 2025 World Oil Outlook, crude oil demand in Africa is projected to rise from 1.8 million barrels per day in 2024 to 4.5 million barrels per day by 2050.
This surge is driven by population growth, urbanization, and rapid industrialization.
Meanwhile, cumulative investments in African oil and gas projects could reach $1.4 trillion by mid-century, provided regulatory and financing conditions are favorable.
African Energy Week 2025 serves as a timely platform to accelerate this trajectory, ensuring the continent secures both the capital and the technology to responsibly harness its resources.
Aligning Policy with OPEC’s Vision
African producers face shared challenges: limited access to capital, infrastructure bottlenecks, and navigating the global shift toward energy transition.
The OPEC-Africa Roundtable at African Energy Week 2025 aims to address these hurdles by fostering coordinated strategies that balance sustainability with economic growth.
Ayuk emphasized the broader significance of the dialogue:
“The OPEC-Africa Roundtable is about ensuring Africa’s voice and priorities are fully represented in global energy conversations.
This is not just about oil and gas production; it is about jobs, industrial growth, and creating a future where Africa’s resources benefit Africa’s people.”
African Energy Week 2025: A Platform for Deals and Dialogue
Now recognized as Africa’s premier energy conference, African Energy Week 2025 will once again position Cape Town as the continent’s hub for investment, deal-making, and high-level discussions.
The OPEC-Africa Roundtable is expected to generate concrete outcomes, from new partnerships to policy commitments that strengthen Africa’s role in the global energy system.
By convening governments, international financiers, and private sector players under one roof, AEW reinforces its reputation as the official platform to sign energy deals in Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
About African Energy Week:
AEW: Invest in African Energies is the continent’s largest gathering of energy stakeholders, bringing together governments, operators, financiers, and technology providers.
The annual conference highlights opportunities across the oil, gas, power, and renewable energy sectors. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information.
SOURCE: African Energy Chamber
