Africa needs greater investment in natural gas production, infrastructure and domestic value chains to translate its energy resources into industrial growth and broader economic opportunities, Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Secretary General Philip Mshelbila said at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town.
Mshelbila emphasized that developing the continent’s gas resources requires more than production capacity. Financing, cross-border infrastructure and regional cooperation are also needed to connect energy supplies with industries and consumers, strengthen energy security and expand access to reliable energy.
“Africa has the resources, its people have the ambition, our collective responsibility is to connect the two through investment, financing, infrastructure, and cooperation,” Mshelbila said.
Gas Investment and Local Value Creation
The GECF chief highlighted the importance of expanding domestic and regional energy value chains so that African countries can derive greater economic benefits from their natural resources. Investment in production, transportation and related infrastructure could help support industrial activity while improving the availability of energy for households and businesses.
Developing local value chains is also central to turning resource wealth into wider economic opportunities. Stronger links between energy projects and domestic industries can support value addition, although the scale of these benefits will depend on financing, infrastructure development and effective cooperation among governments and industry.
Cooperation to Meet Africa’s Energy Needs
African Energy Week 2026 brought together government officials, investors and energy industry leaders to discuss investment opportunities, partnerships and the challenges facing the continent’s energy sector.
Mshelbila’s remarks highlighted the challenge facing Africa’s energy sector: mobilizing investment and building the infrastructure needed to turn natural gas resources into reliable energy supplies, industrial growth and broader economic opportunities.
Explore more highlights from AEW 2026 at aecweek.com
