Ghana is intensifying efforts to attract fresh investment into its oil, gas and power sectors with a $3.5 billion upstream reinvestment plan, as African energy ministers prepare to outline new project pipelines and policy reforms at the upcoming African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town.
The country’s strategy is expected to be a central feature of the high-level ministerial roundtable at the conference, where policymakers from across the continent will present investment opportunities and infrastructure plans shaping Africa’s evolving energy landscape.
Leading Ghana’s delegation will be the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, who is expected to outline measures aimed at strengthening upstream exploration, expanding gas infrastructure and accelerating the country’s gas-to-power transition.
The investment push follows the extension of production licences for the Jubilee Oil Field and TEN Oil Field to 2040, a move designed to provide long-term certainty for investors and sustain production from Ghana’s flagship offshore assets.
Ghana is also rebuilding capacity in the downstream sector following the late-2025 restart of the Tema Oil Refinery, while government moves to clear about $500 million in gas sector arrears to stabilise the value chain and restore investor confidence.
Expanding domestic gas processing capacity at the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant and the development of a 1,200-megawatt state thermal power plant are central to Ghana’s strategy of strengthening electricity supply for industry and reducing reliance on imported fuels.
The country is also renewing exploration efforts in the underexplored Voltaian Basin as part of a broader push to unlock new hydrocarbon reserves that could support long-term production growth.
Beyond Ghana, the ministerial forum will showcase a wave of energy sector expansion across Africa, as governments pursue a mix of hydrocarbon development, renewable energy deployment and infrastructure investment.
In Algeria, Energy and Renewable Energies Minister Mourad Adjal will present plans tied to a $60 billion transformation programme in the country’s energy sector. Algeria is expanding exploration with a 500-well drilling campaign, while also advancing a 1.48-gigawatt solar initiative known as the “Project of the Century.”
The North African producer is also strengthening its role as a key gas supplier to Europe, backed by refinery expansion plans aimed at raising capacity to 50 million tonnes by 2029 and early planning for hydrogen export corridors.
In Senegal, Energy, Petroleum and Mines Minister Birame Soulèye Diop is expected to highlight the country’s rapid emergence as a major oil and gas producer.
The offshore Sangomar Oil Field delivered 36.1 million barrels in 2025, outperforming production forecasts, while the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG Project reached about 2.9 million tonnes per year following first gas production.
Senegal is now prioritising domestic gas utilisation, including refinery upgrades at the SAR Refinery and preparations for Sangomar Phase Two, which aims to lift output beyond 100,000 barrels per day.
Meanwhile, Zambia is moving aggressively to diversify its electricity mix following drought-induced hydroelectric shortages. Energy Minister Makozo Chikote will outline a strategy to add 2,500 megawatts of new capacity, including solar projects such as the 200-megawatt Chisamba expansion and the 136-megawatt Itimpi Phase Two plant.
The country has also introduced an Energy Single Licensing System to accelerate project approvals, with the goal of reaching 10 gigawatts of generation capacity by 2030, with solar and wind expected to supply about one-third of the power mix.
For Niger, Petroleum Minister Hamadou Tinni will spotlight the country’s growing role as an oil exporter following the completion of the 1,950-kilometre Niger–Benin crude oil pipeline, which now transports up to 90,000 barrels per day to international markets.
Alongside expanding uranium production and strengthening cooperation with Algeria on upstream assets, Niger is also introducing digital monitoring systems aimed at improving transparency and operational oversight in its petroleum sector.
Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk, said the participation of senior ministers reflects the scale of opportunities emerging across Africa’s energy landscape.
According to him, the continent is moving beyond strategy toward real project execution, creating a platform where investors can directly engage with policymakers shaping the next phase of oil, gas and energy development.
With new oil production, gas infrastructure and power projects advancing simultaneously across several countries, the discussions at African Energy Week are expected to highlight how Africa’s energy sector is increasingly becoming a major driver of industrial growth, investment and regional economic transformation.
