Gas Technology: Catalyst for Africa's New Energy Future

Despite its vast energy resources, Africa lags significantly in access to modern energy services, with nearly half its population lacking access to grid power.

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Africa’s per capita energy consumption remains much lower than the global average and is comparable to that of India. Approximately 600 million people on the continent—around 43% of the population—lack electricity, most of whom reside in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2022, Africa’s per capita electricity generation was 0.632 kWh, excluding South Africa. SubSaharan Africa is the most energystarved region globally, with per capita energy consumption around 180 kilowatt-hours (kWh), compared to Europe’s 6,500 kWh and the United States’ 13,000 kWh.

Africa is a key producer of hydrocarbons, with an estimated total of 125 billion barrels of oil reserves (7.2% of the world’s total) and 17.89 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas reserves (3% of the global total) as of 2023. However, the continent’s reliance on exporting crude oil while importing refined petroleum products for domestic use highlights a critical challenge.

Renewable energy penetration remains low despite Africa’s potential to produce 350 gigawatts of hydropower, 110 gigawatts of wind power, and 15 gigawatts of geothermal energy. Household consumption dominates Africa’s energy use, unlike other parts of the world where the industrial sector is the largest energy consumer. In 2022, the residential sector consumed the most energy in Africa, followed by the transport sector, with the industrial sector ranking third.