How the Dash for Gas in Africa will fail to deliver development

The document argues that expanding fossil gas production in Africa is a 'fallacy' that risks creating stranded assets, increasing national debt, and exacerbating climate vulnerability. It highlights that gas reserves are concentrated in a few nations, meaning expansion will not benefit the continent broadly. Furthermore, it asserts that fossil gas infrastructure often involves high foreign ownership and poor contractual terms, pulling wealth out of Africa. The report contrasts this with the potential of renewables, noting that Africa possesses vast solar and wind resources that could provide cheaper, more accessible energy and more sustainable jobs. Environmental risks cited include the destruction of biodiversity hotspots, such as mangroves and coral reefs, and the health impacts of gas flaring and fracking. The briefing concludes that Africa should leapfrog extractive energy systems in favor of a clean, distributed energy future supported by international climate finance.

• Expanding fossil gas production in Africa carries a high risk of creating stranded assets, with an estimated $230 billion in oil and gas projects at risk over the next decade, rising to $1.4 trillion by 2050.
• Fossil gas reserves are highly concentrated, with five countries—Nigeria, Algeria, Mozambique, Egypt, and Libya—holding more than 90 percent of known African gas reserves.
• The 'dash for gas' is unlikely to improve energy access for the majority of Africans; for example, Nigeria has the world's largest energy access deficit despite being a major gas producer, with 43 percent of its population lacking grid electricity.
• Renewable energy is more cost-effective and job-intensive than fossil fuels, with every dollar invested in renewables generating two to five times more jobs than the same investment in fossil fuels.
• A significant portion of Africa's projected gas production is controlled by foreign entities, with 61 percent owned by multinational companies from Europe, North America, and Asia.
• Fossil gas infrastructure poses direct threats to biodiversity and heritage sites, including the potential destruction of shrimp fisheries by the proposed 6,000km Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.
• The document argues that fossil gas is not a viable 'transition fuel' due to methane leakage, transportation emissions, and infrastructure lock-in.
• Climate change is already causing severe disruptions in Africa, with the World Bank estimating that 86 million Africans could be forced to migrate internally by 2050.

APA

Daley, F. (n.d.). How the Dash for Gas in Africa will fail to deliver development. Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/The-Fossil-Fuelled-Fallacy-How-the-Dash-for-Gas-in-Africa-Will-Fail-to-Deliver-Development.pdf

Chicago

Daley, Freddie. How the Dash for Gas in Africa will fail to deliver development. Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, n.d. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/The-Fossil-Fuelled-Fallacy-How-the-Dash-for-Gas-in-Africa-Will-Fail-to-Deliver-Development.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Daley |first1=Freddie |title=How the Dash for Gas in Africa will fail to deliver development |publisher=Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative |url=https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/The-Fossil-Fuelled-Fallacy-How-the-Dash-for-Gas-in-Africa-Will-Fail-to-Deliver-Development.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{daleyndhow, author = {Daley, Freddie}, title = {{How the Dash for Gas in Africa will fail to deliver development}}, institution = {Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative}, url = {https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/The-Fossil-Fuelled-Fallacy-How-the-Dash-for-Gas-in-Africa-Will-Fail-to-Deliver-Development.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }