Letter from South Africa: States and industry eye opportunities

Governments and private firms came together at Africa Oil Week to discuss how to ensure the continent’s hydrocarbons resources do not stay in the ground

This year’s Africa Oil Week brought together companies and governments that share the belief that developing nations should be able to utilise their hydrocarbon resources. The conference also demonstrated the growing importance of independent E&Ps in Africa, as well as the promise of gas developments and the continent’s potential role in alleviating Europe’s energy crisis. One key takeaway from the conference, which took place this year in Cape Town, is that Africa wants its energy transition to be conducted on its own terms, with oil and gas still forming part of a more diversified energy mix. Hydrocarbons are not being demonised as much in Africa as it they are in other parts of the wo