Unlocking Domestic Potential

Recent exploration successes across the continent underscore the promise of onshore gas as a driver of sustainable growth. In South Africa, Kinetiko Energy has reported record gas flow rates from its Brakfontein well – a milestone that reinforces the country’s capacity to harness its own natural gas resources to meet growing domestic demand. ReconAfrica continues to advance exploration in Namibia’s onshore Kavango Basin, with drilling at the Kavango West 1X well now entering the Otavi reservoir section, a zone with strong potential for commercial discovery. In Zimbabwe, Invictus Energy recently secured a three-year renewal for its Exclusive Prospecting Orders, extending the company’s exploration activities within the Cabora Bassa Basin. Together, these projects reflect a wider continental effort to tap into onshore reserves that can serve as a foundation for industrialization and inclusive development.

The development of onshore gas resources also creates opportunities for the local workforce and companies to participate directly in the value chain. From drilling and logistics to processing and downstream manufacturing, local content policies ensure that domestic industries benefit from the growth of the energy sector. Additionally, access to affordable and stable energy enables the establishment of power-intensive industries such as fertilizers, cement and steel production – sectors vital to economic diversification and job creation.

Beyond national borders, successful onshore projects are laying the groundwork for a more interconnected energy landscape. Cross-border pipeline infrastructure, such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, is creating new avenues for regional energy trade and integration. Uganda’s Tilenga project, a major onshore oil development in the Albertine Graben, is similarly catalyzing regional infrastructure and investment flows, setting a precedent for future energy cooperation across East Africa. By linking domestic supply to regional demand, these initiatives enhance resilience against global price shocks and reinforce Africa’s capacity to shape its own energy future.

The development of local gas reserves provides a pathway toward affordable, reliable and domestically sourced energy, underpinning efforts to industrialize, diversify economies and drive inclusive growth. As exploration advances from South Africa to Namibia, Zimbabwe and beyond, Africa is taking tangible steps toward energy self-sufficiency and building an independent future powered by domestic resources and regional cooperation.

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