African Energy Week 2025 opens with U.S. backing and billion-dollar seismic push
African Energy Week 2025 opened Tuesday in Cape Town with U.S. officials pledging support for African energy projects and industry leaders warning that regulatory delays could stall oil, gas and renewable development.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz told delegates the United States intends to deepen its role in Africa’s energy sector. “The U.S. should be a strong and committed partner in Africa’s energy future,” he said.
Josh Volz, deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, cited $65 billion in U.S. private-sector commitments and a $2.5 billion government pledge to support African projects. “International governments should not stand in the way of how African nations determine their energy futures,” Volz said.
Industry calls for faster approvals
African Energy Chamber chairman NJ Ayuk said new deals show investor confidence is returning but stressed that lengthy approval timelines remain a major obstacle. “The state of African energy is resilient… but it shouldn’t take five, 10 or 20 years to approve projects,” he told the forum.
Seismic company TGS said it has invested $1 billion in African data over the past decade, building coverage that represents about 70 percent of the continent’s seismic library. CEO Kristian Johansen said interest in exploration remains strong despite global transition pressures.
TotalEnergies details new projects
TotalEnergies senior vice president Mike Sangster said Africa remains central to the company’s upstream portfolio, with exploration licenses in Congo, Namibia and Nigeria, and projects underway in Angola and Uganda.
Sangster said the company is pairing production with sustainability measures, citing flaring reductions in Gabon, methane detection programs and 1.1 gigawatts of renewable projects in development.
Ayuk also urged faster adoption of clean cooking solutions, warning that millions of households remain reliant on unsafe fuels. He called liquefied petroleum gas “a critical part of the transition” that could save lives.
