Natural Gas Can Fuel Africa’s Industrial Future, NJ Ayuk Tells Sputnik Africa

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

The Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (AEC), NJ Ayuk has emphasized that reliance on natural gas can fuel Africa’s progress just like it has for other big economies around the world.

During an interview on Sputnik Africa, NJ Ayuk noted that Russia has become a major energy power by using natural gas to develop industries and expand its exports. “Similarly, China has prioritized natural gas to reduce pollution and push its economy to new heights,” he said.

NJ Ayuk added that Africa should no longer depend on pulling resources without moving forward while urging the continent to adopt a new approach, inspired by countries like Russia and Russia.

“We've looked at countries like Russia, we've looked at countries like China, what they've been able to do with natural gas to industrialize and revolutionize their economies. That's how we look at natural gas,” NJ Ayuk said.

These nations according to the African Energy Chamber boss have turned to natural gas as a key tool for building their industries and transforming their economies. They have made efforts to develop their gas reserves, setting policies and investing heavily to turn their natural resources into economic growth and stability.

“You see that with natural gas we'll have a chance to grow our food production by having urea, ammonia, NPK fertilizer plants that will still be able to drive that and give us that independence that we need rather than expect stuff from external countries.”

“And that would give us independence from the US or Europe and it would give us a lot of sense because then you have a local market that you are driving more cash markets and with that, you might be able to finance a lot of things yourself rather than we're expecting for financing to come from America or Europe,” NJ Ayuk added.

Ayuk emphasized that reliance on natural gas can fuel Africa’s progress just like it has for other big economies. Russia, for example, has become a major energy power by using natural gas to develop industries and expand its exports. Similarly, China has prioritized natural gas to reduce pollution and push its economy to new heights.

The Executive Chairman’s remarks come at a time when many African countries are grappling with the challenges of translating their vast natural wealth into tangible economic development. For decades, much of the continent’s natural resources – oil, gas, and minerals – have been exported in raw form, with limited local processing and value addition.

Ayuk’s call is part of a growing push within Africa’s energy and policy circles to shift toward building industries and value chains that can support job creation, food production, and sustainable growth.