Deals with Angola LNG, Nigeria LNG and the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project illustrate a strategic approach: locking in cargoes now provides supply certainty for Europe, while African exporters gain revenue stability to fund production and expansion.

Germany’s state-owned Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) has formalized a delivery agreement with Angola LNG, securing roughly 500,000 tons of LNG from 2026, equivalent to about eight cargoes. The arrangement allows flexible destinations, giving SEFE the ability to respond to demand shifts across Europe. While modest in scale compared with Europe’s broader LNG portfolio, the deal signals a deliberate pivot toward structured agreements with African producers. Buyers are moving beyond spot purchases to contracts that provide predictability, recognizing that even as new global supply is expected to come online by 2026, volatility and geopolitical risks remain.

At the same time, African producers are taking steps to ensure the reliability of their exports. Last August, Nigeria LNG (NLNG) signed a series of 20-year gas supply agreements, securing feedstock of approximately 1.29 billion standard cubic feet per day from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and key upstream partners. These contracts underpin the company’s forthcoming Train-7 expansion at Bonny Island, which will increase liquefaction capacity by nearly a third. For NLNG, long-term agreements provide predictable revenue, while for European buyers, they offer certainty of supply – a mutually beneficial arrangement that reflects the growing sophistication of African LNG markets. 

West Africa’s GTA LNG project, spanning Senegal and Mauritania and operated by bp, further illustrates this trend. Phase 2 production is expected to contribute LNG to Europe under long-term offtake agreements. The project demonstrates Africa’s potential as a reliable supplier for European markets while highlighting the continent’s capacity to execute complex cross-border developments. For European buyers, these commitments provide not only cargo security but also portfolio diversification, reducing reliance on traditional suppliers amid an evolving energy landscape.

So why are these deals happening now? Europe is not acting out of panic. Rather, buyers are anticipating a period of market transition. By 2026, new liquefaction projects in the U.S., Qatar, and Canada are expected to expand supply, yet market uncertainties – from seasonal demand swings to regional infrastructure constraints – still make early contract commitments attractive. African LNG offers a combination of geopolitical stability, production reliability, and long-term contractual flexibility that complements Europe’s broader sourcing strategy.

These deals underscore why platforms like the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris are so critical, bringing together governments, investors, NOCs and technical experts to explore long-term partnership models, structured contracts and risk-mitigation strategies. As these developments show, structured agreements and de-risking strategies are now central to how Africa participates in global energy markets. IAE 2026 in Paris will spotlight these mechanisms, connecting investors, policymakers and operators to examine practical models that reduce uncertainty and encourage capital deployment across the continent.

Europe’s strategy of locking in African gas today is about managing risk and building resilience. It ensures that when market transitions bring new supply, European buyers have already secured reliable contracts, while African producers gain predictable revenue to sustain and grow their LNG exports. In a world of evolving supply-demand dynamics, these agreements are an early signal of how strategic planning, long-term contracts, and cross-continental partnerships are shaping the next chapter of global gas trade.

IAE 2026 is an exclusive forum designed to connect African energy markets with global investors, serving as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to African Energy Week. Scheduled for April 22–23, 2026, in Paris, the event will provide delegates with two days of in-depth engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, visit www.invest-africa-energy.com. To sponsor or register as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com