Energy Minister calls for balanced approach to Africa’s natural gas development

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, has called for a balanced approach to Africa’s natural gas development, urging countries to strengthen domestic utilisation while pursuing export opportunities to enhance energy security and economic growth.

He said linking natural gas production to power generation, industrial competitiveness and regional energy integration was essential to maximising the continent’s energy resources and creating shared economic benefits.

Dr Jinapor made the remarks during a ministerial panel at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and African Energy Chamber (AEC) Strategic Forum, held as part of African Energy Week 2026.

Speaking on the theme, “Balancing Africa’s Domestic Natural Gas Utilisation and Export Ambitions,” the Minister highlighted natural gas's strategic role in meeting domestic energy needs while supporting broader regional development.

He said natural gas remained central to Ghana’s power generation and energy security, noting that increased gas availability to thermal power plants had reduced the country’s reliance on liquid fuels.

Dr Jinapor stressed that strengthening domestic energy resources was particularly important amid global energy disruptions, which underscored the need for African countries to build resilience against external shocks.

He said developing indigenous resources and expanding regional cooperation in natural gas would help African countries safeguard their energy supplies and strengthen collective energy security.

The Minister also identified regional energy infrastructure, particularly the West African Gas Pipeline, as an important platform for deepening cross-border gas trade and improving market integration.

According to him, stronger regional cooperation would enable producing and consuming countries to derive mutual benefits from shared energy infrastructure, while supporting economic growth and more reliable energy supplies.

Dr Jinapor reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to a pragmatic and balanced energy strategy under its green transition agenda, with natural gas serving as a key resource for reliable power generation alongside the accelerated deployment of renewable energy and other sustainable solutions.

He said the approach would enable Ghana to address its immediate energy requirements while advancing its longer-term transition towards a more sustainable energy system.