Malabo's dash for gas in Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea has secured fresh supply for its LNG plant, but can it build on that success?
Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima is a big fan of natural gas. Equatorial Guinea's energy minister spends large chunks of his year travelling around the world proselytising on the potential of the West African producer—the smallest Opec member by crude output—to become a major gas export hub. He says he is taking his cue from Middle Eastern oil producers now focusing on gas as the fossil fuel of the future. But he is also well aware of the need to replace Equatorial Guinea's declining oil output from maturing fields with export earnings from new volumes. Crude output is running at around 113,000bl/d in 2019, compared to 120,000bl/d in 2018, according to the minister. He puts a positive spin on that,
Also in this section
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
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices






