Introduction
Africa continues to be a significant frontier for oil and gas exploration and development, with countries like Namibia, Sierra Leone, and Ghana emerging as key areas for new discoveries and investment. While traditional strongholds like Angola and Nigeria still hold substantial potential, recent exploration efforts are increasingly targeting new frontiers and diversifying investment across various regions and plays.
Frontier Areas and Developments:
Namibia:
Has seen significant discoveries in its Orange Basin, with companies like Galp and TotalEnergies involved in exploration and appraisal campaigns, aiming for first oil production by 2029.
Sierra Leone:
Is positioning itself as West Africa’s newest oil and gas exploration frontier, preparing for a potential new licensing round following a recent offshore 3D seismic survey.
Ghana:
Beyond the established Jubilee field, Ghana is actively pursuing new discoveries in blocks like Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points, with plans for significant production increases.
Nigeria:
Beyond the Niger Delta, Nigeria is now focusing on frontier basins in the north for untapped oil and gas potential.
Other Promising Regions:
East African countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, as well as coastal nations like Mauritania and Mozambique, also hold considerable offshore potential for hydrocarbon supplies.
Industry Trends and Focus:
Diversification of Investment:
Capital expenditure is no longer dominated by established giants, with investment spreading to new plays across the continent.
Focus on Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Barrels:
Discoveries like Eni’s Baleine in Côte d’Ivoire highlight the potential for low-cost, low-carbon production.
Human Resource Development:
Countries like Ghana are prioritizing local content and human resource development in their oil and gas sectors.
Balancing Growth with Sustainability:
There is a growing emphasis on integrating sustainable practices into all phases of oil and gas operations.
Infrastructure Development:
Projects like the planned export pipeline from Uganda to Tanzania and the Matola LNG terminal in Mozambique are crucial for developing these resources.
Emerging Regions and Discoveries:
Namibia (Orange Basin): This is arguably the hottest new frontier in African oil and gas. Since 2022, major discoveries by Shell (Graff-1X, Jonker-1X) and TotalEnergies (Venus-1X) in the deepwater Orange Basin have sent ripples through the industry. These finds indicate multi-billion-barrel potential for light oil and significant associated natural gas, attracting major international oil companies (IOCs) and signaling Namibia’s emergence as a future oil producer, with first oil targeted by 2029. Appraisal activities are intensifying, and the sheer scale of the basin suggests a significant long-term play.
Senegal & Mauritania (MSGBC Basin): This region has witnessed a flurry of world-class gas discoveries, most notably the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project, a cross-border development by BP and Kosmos Energy. First gas from GTA Phase 1 was commissioned in late 2024, with LNG production following in early 2025. Other significant gas finds like Yakaar-Teranga further cement the region’s potential as a major LNG hub. Additionally, Senegal has delivered its first oil from the Sangomar Field in June 2024.
Côte d’Ivoire: The deepwater Baleine field, discovered by Eni, is another significant recent success story. With estimated reserves of around 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 3.3 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas, Baleine is set to significantly boost Côte d’Ivoire’s production, with early production already commenced and aiming for increased output. This project is notably being developed with a “net zero emission” ambition for the industry.
Mozambique (Rovuma Basin): Mozambique holds some of the largest natural gas reserves globally, primarily in the Rovuma Basin offshore. While the onshore Mozambique LNG project faced delays due to security concerns, the Coral South FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas) facility is already operational and exporting LNG, demonstrating the country’s potential. Plans for Coral North FLNG and the larger Rovuma LNG project (operated by ExxonMobil) are advancing, positioning Mozambique as a major global LNG supplier.
Uganda & Kenya (East Africa Rift System): Uganda is on the cusp of becoming an oil producer, with first oil from its Lake Albert Basin projects (Tilenga and Kingfisher South) anticipated by 2025-2026. These onshore developments, though not deepwater, represent a significant new frontier for landlocked East African oil. Kenya also has oil discoveries in its South Lokichar Basin.
Angola: While a mature producer, Angola continues to see renewed exploration interest, particularly in its deepwater and pre-salt plays. Joint ventures like Azule Energy (BP and Eni) are planning multiple offshore wells to identify new reserves and maintain production amidst maturing fields. FID for the Cameia-Golfinho deepwater development was taken in 2024.
South Africa: The Brulpadda and Luiperd discoveries by TotalEnergies have indicated significant gas condensate potential in the deepwater Outeniqua Basin, marking South Africa as a prospective new frontier.
Driving Factors and Challenges
Underexplored Potential: Many African basins remain largely unexplored, with geological similarities to highly productive regions elsewhere in the world.
Favorable Geology: Proven petroleum systems and large, world-class discoveries continue to attract investment.
Domestic Energy Demand: Rapid population growth and industrialization across Africa necessitate increased energy supply.
Geopolitical Shifts: Events like the war in Ukraine have highlighted the importance of energy security and diversification of supply, drawing renewed interest to African resources.
Improved Fiscal Regimes: Some African governments are implementing more attractive fiscal terms and clearer regulatory frameworks to draw foreign investment.
Future Outlook and Opportunities
Resource Potential
Africa is home to an estimated 130 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and over 500 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Vast unexplored acreage in ultra-deepwater, pre-salt, and frontier basins offers major upside.
Technological Advances
Use of AI, digital twins, and data analytics is helping de-risk exploration.
Remote sensing and machine learning models aid seismic interpretation in complex terrains.
Regional Collaboration
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can facilitate intra-African energy trade.
Joint development zones and cross-border infrastructure are being explored (e.g., Senegal-Mauritania cooperation).
Conclusion
Africa’s new frontiers in oil and gas, particularly the deepwater basins of Namibia, Senegal, Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire, and the gas-rich Rovuma Basin in Mozambique, represent a significant growth area for the global energy industry. While the global energy transition poses challenges for investment and project timelines, the strategic importance of these resources for Africa’s development and global energy security ensures that these frontiers will remain critical to the continent’s economic future.