Central Africa Accelerates Multi-Billion-Dollar Gas Expansion to Meet Growing Energy Demand

Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo are pushing forward with major gas initiatives, signing multi-billion-dollar deals to secure regional energy supplies and attract investment over the next two decades. At African Energy Week 2025: Invest in African Energies, leaders outlined ambitious projects aimed at safeguarding existing infrastructure and meeting rising domestic and regional demand.

Antonio Oburu Ondo, Minister of Hydrocarbons for Equatorial Guinea, highlighted the country’s latest agreements, including a multi-billion-dollar Heads of Agreement for a phase of the Gas Mega Hub and a multi-million-dollar deal with Chevron for the Aseng gas project. “The Gas Mega Hub aims to ensure that the Punta Europa Gas Complex survives over time,” he said. “It is a constant fight to make sure we tap into new gas resources to guarantee the survival of the gas complex.”

Ondo emphasized Equatorial Guinea’s investor-friendly approach, noting the country’s open licensing policies. “We have been very successful with our open door licensing policy, and announced our new EG Ronda licensing round yesterday. Our aim is to be one of the top countries in terms of regulation,” he said.

Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons for the Republic of Congo, echoed the region’s focus on prioritizing gas for domestic needs before exports. “Every drop of oil and gas counts. We have decided to make gas a priority. We will only export once we cover the needs of the country. The target is to provide electricity access to all Congolese people in the next five years, especially clean cooking gas,” he said, adding that national projects will produce LNG, LPG, butane, and propane.

Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, framed energy development in the Gulf of Guinea as closely linked to strategic security. “Because precision is now so cheap, it has greatly increased the threat envelope… There is a lot of private sector capability available to help governments maintain their sovereignty and restore their border integrity,” he said.

Prince also highlighted the role of AI and data centers in shaping global energy demand. “The demand signal for energy production for the world is rapidly accelerating. Invest accordingly, prepare accordingly logistically. It’s going to be an all-fronts effort to get it done.”