The long road to African energy finance
The launch of the much-needed yet oft-delayed Africa Energy Bank remains shrouded in questions and funding constraints, but its potential is clear
The Africa Energy Bank (AEB), intended as a vehicle to improve financing for oil and gas projects on the continent, is struggling to get off the ground. The AEB is a joint venture backed by the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Africa Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO). The plan was to launch the bank in June, but the timetable is now uncertain. The bank’s establishment agreement and charter were officially signed in June, but it is unclear when the AEB will be operating. Spokespeople for Afreximbank and APPO did not respond to questions about when the bank will start. A source, who did not want to be named, said the bank is not yet ready, but that a “soft launch” is bein
Also in this section
9 April 2026
The April 2026 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
9 April 2026
Offshore operators are working through an FID backlog as the rig market consolidates, helped by improving project economics and a renewed security drive
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
