By Oke Peter

As the United States deepens its engagement across Africa’s gas value chain, natural gas is fast becoming the cornerstone of a renewed and strategic US–Africa energy partnership. From upstream development and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects to power generation and downstream industrial collaboration, both regions are aligning gas strategies to strengthen energy security, drive industrial growth and build more resilient supply chains.


For many African economies, gas represents the quickest pathway to stabilising national grids, powering manufacturing hubs, supporting fertiliser and petrochemical production, and accelerating broader industrialisation goals.


For the United States, expanding cooperation in Africa’s gas sector reinforces the continent’s role as a strategic energy partner while opening new trade corridors, facilitating technology transfer and mobilising private capital.



However, with large-scale gas projects often requiring close to a decade to reach completion, stakeholders are increasingly focused on shortening development timelines and improving project execution to meet rising demand and economic targets.


These critical issues will take centre stage at the Powering Africa Summit (PAS) 2026 during a high-level session titled: “How Gas Strategies between the US and Africa are Increasing Energy Security and Bilateral Trade.” The panel will examine why the United States views Africa as a long-term strategic energy partner and what that partnership means in practical terms for policy alignment, trade expansion and sustainable cooperation.


Confirmed speakers for the session include:

* H.E. Honourable Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Nigeria

* H.E. Honourable Salome Makamba, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy, Tanzania

* Judith Adjoba Blay, CEO, Ghana Gas, Ghana

* Nomfundo Maseti, Full-Time Regulator Member responsible for Electricity & Gas Regulation at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), South Africa.

* Genesis Energy (Speaker to be confirmed)

* Karim Nasser, Executive Chairman, NANT Power

* Laura Spector, Country Manager, Energy, U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)

* Erik Granskog, CEO, Endeavor Energy


The session is expected to outline actionable strategies for accelerating gas infrastructure development, enhancing bilateral trade flows and positioning gas as a practical bridge between Africa’s immediate power needs and its long-term economic transformation ambitions.