Vast Potential for Africa To Expand Energy Access, Strengthen Global Energy Security: GECF

Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) secretary-general Mohamed Hamel has affirmed GECF’s unwavering commitment to Africa’s energy aspirations and highlighted the continent’s vast potential to expand energy access, accelerate economic growth, deepen regional integration, and strengthen global energy security.

He was delivering the keynote address at the 3rd Namibia Oil and Gas Conference in Windhoek recently.

Hamel underscored GECF’s unwavering commitment to Africa’s energy aspirations, as enshrined in the Algiers Declaration, which reaffirms the sovereign rights of nations over their natural gas resources and supports efforts to eradicate energy poverty, drive industrialisation, and promote inclusive socio-economic development.

Representing 20 of the world’s leading gas-producing countries – including nine from Africa – the GECF serves as a unique platform for investment facilitation, policy dialogue, capacity building, and technology transfer.

He highlighted the forum’s proven expertise in delivering comprehensive market analysis, policy insights, and strategic partnerships to help member countries harness the full potential of natural gas in achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Commending Namibia’s recent offshore discoveries – including Venus, Graff, and Mopane – Hamel said these milestones firmly place the country among Africa’s most promising energy frontiers. He stressed that natural gas is not merely a “bridge fuel” but a “destination fuel” – critical for securing energy supplies, powering industrialisation, and advancing sustainable development.

Namibia, he noted, is entering a transformative phase in its energy journey, one that offers the promise of opportunity, justice, and shared progress.

In his meeting with the Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Gaudentia Krohne, Hamel extended an invitation for Namibia to join the GECF.

He noted that membership would provide access to a wealth of expertise from countries with similar experiences, create new avenues for collaboration, and support Namibia in shaping and realising its long-term energy ambitions.

The 3rd Namibia Oil and Gas Conference was held under the theme ‘From Exploration to Action: Positioning Namibia as the Next Energy Frontier’.

The event was chaired by Dr Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Natangwe Ithete, also the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy.