AEW 2026 to Map Africa’s New Gas Frontiers Through 2035

African frontier gas exploration is entering a more demanding technical phase as operators move from discovery-led campaigns toward reservoir definition, development planning and commercialization. African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 will examine how advanced modelling and critical appraisal data can reduce uncertainty and determine which discoveries can progress toward full-field development.

The panel, “New Gas Frontiers to 2035: Exploration, Appraisal and Commercialization Pathways,” will examine the technical decisions separating promising discoveries from investable projects. Discussions will address basin modelling, seismic interpretation, reservoir characterization and the appraisal evidence required to establish commerciality, support development concepts and advance projects toward final investment decisions.

The Orange Basin illustrates the scale of the opportunity and the complexity of the challenge. Offshore Namibia and South Africa, operators including Rhino Resources and Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas are advancing frontier acreage, while reprocessed seismic and new 3D datasets are helping narrow exploration targets and guide appraisal drilling.

Namibia’s PEL 85 and PEL 83 sit within this broader frontier push, with development concepts expected to depend on reservoir continuity, fluid characteristics and deepwater infrastructure requirements. Rhino Resources is progressing exploration alongside Namcor, while Eco (Atlantic) retains interests across PELs 97, 99 and 100, supporting continued evaluation of the Walvis Basin.

West Africa offers a different commercialization pathway. bp and Kosmos Energy are advancing the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project offshore Senegal and Mauritania, where FLNG infrastructure and domestic gas obligations shape development decisions. Ivory Coast’s Baleine development similarly demonstrates how accelerate appraisal and early production can support faster movement toward commercial output.

Nigeria’s ANOH Gas Development Project highlights the importance of processing infrastructure in converting upstream resources into domestic supply. The 50/50 venture between Seplat Energy and NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company is designed to process wet gas, recover LPG and condensates, and deliver dry gas to the domestic market.

Angola is also moving toward more gas-focused development, with Azule Energy, TotalEnergies and other operators evaluating opportunities across the Lower Congo and Northern Kwanza basins. The Quiluma-Maboqueiro development and continued exploration around Gajajeira-1 and Katambi-2 demonstrate how appraisal and infrastructure integration are shaping the next phase of Angola’s gas sector.

East Africa presents another major frontier, with Tanzania’s LNG project requiring extensive reservoir modelling, infrastructure planning and commercial coordination. The proposed development involving Shell, Equinor and TPDC could connect offshore gas resources to domestic and international markets, while South Africa’s gas strategy is increasingly focused on combining LNG imports with domestic offshore developments.

The technical and commercial agenda extends beyond operators to the companies supporting exploration and development. Africa Provider Offshore Services, Sahara Energy Group and South African Oil & Gas Alliance represent the wider engineering, logistics and service ecosystem required to execute frontier campaigns and build local capacity.

“Africa’s new gas frontiers require the technical confidence to turn resources into bankable developments,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. By combining advanced exploration technologies with rigorous appraisal and smarter commercialization strategies, we can unlock gas projects that strengthen energy security, attract investment and create lasting value across the continent.”

As Africa’s gas frontiers advance toward 2035, the central opportunity has become generating sufficient technical confidence, infrastructure readiness and commercial evidence to justify development, attract capital and connect new gas supplies to regional markets.