Accra, Ghana, 22 September 2025 – The African Energy Commission (AFREC), launched its first oil and gas market study for Eastern African Region, reaffirming its commitment to driving regional energy integration, sustainable development, and intra-African trade at the official opening of the Africa Oil Week (AOW) 2025 in Accra, Ghana.

The Eastern Africa Regional Oil and Gas report, unveiled during the opening of the AOW and subsequently shared and discussed in meetings by AFREC, assesses opportunities to promote domestic oil and gas markets across the Region, aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The report, the first of continent-wide initiatives covering all five African Union regions, provides strategic insights to help Eastern Africa leverage its oil and gas reserves for energy security and economic growth.

In his opening remarks during the Ministerial and CEO Forum, AFREC Executive Director, Mr Rashid Ali Abdallah, welcomed delegates, ministers, CEOs, and industry leaders to work together to enhance solutions and opportunities in the energy sector. “Africa cannot afford to advance its energy agenda in silos. A united front built on strong leadership, regional cooperation, and collective ambition will ensure that Africa’s energy future is not only secure, but sovereign and sustainable,” said Mr. Abdallah.

Africa holds over 125 billion barrels of oil reserves, more than 18 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, and nearly 40% of the world’s renewable energy potential. Yet, more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. AFREC emphasised that the solution lies in regional energy integration—harmonising regulations, investing in cross-border infrastructure, and connecting markets to deliver sustainable energy access for all.

“This forum is our opportunity to turn vision into action—by aligning strategies, building trust, and ensuring that progress benefits all our people, not just profits,” Mr. Abdallah added.

Meanwhile, at the Africa Oil Week from 15-18^th September, the African Energy Commission participated in key sessions among them a leadership Roundtable discussion on Methane Mitigation, the ‘Cross Border Products and Knowledge Exchange’ panel session, and the ‘Funding Local Content’ panel. This was in addition to joining a high-level session on “Inter-Regional Gas Distribution for Continental Energy Access”, a strategic dialogue aimed at addressing the role of gas-powered infrastructure in building Africa’s long-term energy security and regional connectivity.

And, on the sidelines of the AOW, AFREC also held meetings with key stakeholders and players in the energy sector such as the Minster of Energy and Green Transition of Ghana, the World Bank, Shell International and the Environmental Defense Fund to foster cooperation among other shared objectives 

AFREC’s participation at the Africa Oil Week 2025 underscores its commitment to guiding African Union Member States in formulating actionable energy strategies and supporting integration of oil, natural gas and products markets with renewable energy initiatives.

-ENDS

For Editors: The African Energy Commission (AFREC) is a specialized agency of the African Union responsible for coordinating and harmonizing energy policy development and implementation across the continent. AFREC’s mission is to promote sustainable energy development through capacity building, data systems, and strategic partnerships.

The Eastern African Oil and Gas Market report reviewed energy potential and market dynamics across 16 countries that included Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Other countries were Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The report identifies several priority actions, including scaling up exploration, commercialising contingent reserves, expanding underutilised refining capacity, attracting investments. These measures are deemed vital to reducing import dependency and achieving energy self-sufficiency in the medium to long term. in the sector among others.

For more information, please contact:

Executive Director | African Energy Commission (AFREC) | African Union |
email: afrec@africaunion.org | Tel: +213 23 45 9198 | https://www.au-afrec.org | Algiers | Algeria | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn

George Sichinga | Communication Officer | African Energy Commission (AFREC) | African Union | Email: Sichingag@africanunion.org | Tel: +213 23 45 91 98 | https://www.au-afrec.org | Algiers | Algeria | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn