Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has urged global gas-producing and exporting countries to give preferential consideration to domestic gas utilization rather than its export to bridge the prevailing cooking gas shortage if a global clean cooking environment is to be achieved in the African region.
Hon. Ekpo, who is also the President of the 2026 Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), stated this via his official X handle, in his address at the 3rd GECF Africa Day Workshop in Doha, Qatar, emphasizing the need for African countries to strike a strategic balance between natural gas exports and domestic utilization.
“Though it is paramount to scale up investors’ confidence and fiscal returns, the domestic utilization delivers the real development multiplier needed for long-term transformation across the continent. I stressed that exporting gas without simultaneously building domestic capacity could leave African nations. Ekpo has stated.
In the area of energy accessibility and availability to power industries operating in countries where the resource is produced, Hon Ekpo stated that, despite the economic earnings generated from the exports of the resources, the deployment of the gas for industrial growth in these countries is discouraged. He called on GECF countries to fashion out modalities to bridge this gap.
“With persistent energy shortages, weak industrialisation, and limited economic impact despite strong export earnings. I also reaffirmed the commitment of the GECF to supporting this balance through technical cooperation, evidence-based analysis, and practical collaboration.”
Also speaking at the event, H.E. Dr. Philip Mshelbila highlighted Africa’s vast human potential, abundant natural resources, rapidly growing youthful population and the need to balance natural gas exports with the addition of value on the continent.
H.E. Salah Attia noted that the workshop theme reflects Algeria’s national experience and the broader aspirations of the African continent. He highlighted Algeria’s longstanding role as a natural gas producer and emphasized the potential contribution of the GECF GRI in advancing scientific research and technical cooperation within the gas industry.
In celebration of Africa Day, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) hosted the 3rd Africa Day Workshop at the GECF Secretariat headquarters in Doha, Qatar, under the theme “Balancing Natural Gas Exports and Domestic Utilization in Africa.” The event also formed part of the GECF Silver Jubilee celebrations, marking the Forum’s 25th Anniversary.
