A brighter year for Africa
Senegal's and Mozambique's projects gained momentum, Nigeria's production started to rise again
The forces acting on the hydrocarbons sector in sub-Saharan Africa are as varied and sizeable as the continent itself. But 2017 was largely positive. Projects moved ahead on both sides of the continent. Nigeria and Angola remain Africa's hydrocarbons kingpins, but developments in up-and-coming producers, like Senegal and Mozambique, continued to impress. Senegal's speed in developing a new oil and gas province has been impressive, showing what can be done when oil companies and governments see eye-to-eye—and if the oil and gas discoveries keep racking up. Operator Cairn Energy increased its estimate of recoverable oil resources in its deep-water SNE field, around 100km offshore the Senegales
Also in this section
8 December 2025
The Caribbean country’s role in the global oil market is significantly diminished, but disruptions caused by outright conflict would still have implications for US Gulf Coast refineries
5 December 2025
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
