By Ajong Mbapndah L
Cape Town— Africa’s vast energy potential took center stage at the opening of this year’s Africa Energy Week as Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President Africa for TotalEnergies, Sept. 30, 2025, urged the world not to underestimate the continent’s role in shaping the future of global energy.
Speaking with conviction, he reminded delegates that in Africa, energy is not just about keeping the lights on. “It is about progress,” he said. “Access to energy is fundamental to human development. Wherever energy availability rises, so does the Human Development Index. Yet, 600 million Africans still live without access to electricity. That is the task before us.”
Sangster’s words landed with weight, especially as he pointed to the latest International Energy Agency figures that show just how daunting the global challenge has become. Meeting demand requires an annual investment of $570 billion, with almost 90 percent of that needed merely to maintain current production levels.
“Without this,” he warned, “the world would lose the equivalent of Brazil and Norway’s combined production every year. New oil and gas projects are not optional — they are essential.” Against this backdrop, he framed Africa as uniquely placed to respond, not only because of its reserves but because of its potential to drive its own development while meeting the world’s needs. “Africa today has the chance to place itself at the very center of energy security and diversification for decades to come,” he said.
For TotalEnergies, Africa is not an afterthought but a core part of its identity. Sangster reminded the audience that the company’s story on the continent stretches back almost a century, from its first wells in the 1920s to today’s flagship projects. That history, he stressed, has shaped a commitment that continues to deepen.
Nearly half of the company’s exploration budget is now focused on Africa, and in just the past few weeks, TotalEnergies has secured seven new offshore licenses across Congo, Liberia, and Nigeria. The latter, awarded through a competitive bid round, marked the first time in more than a decade that an international company has been granted such rights in Nigeria.
“This is a testament to the strong collaboration and trust we have with our Nigerian partners,” he said warmly. He could not resist adding, with a nod to the host country, that TotalEnergies also sees real potential in South Africa. What is needed, he suggested, is a faster, more efficient authorization process so that projects can move from promise to reality.
The speech also underscored how existing projects are reshaping the landscape. In Angola, production has recently begun at Begonia and CLOV Phase 3, while the Kaminho FPSO project is advancing, with conversion work on a former VLCC ship now underway to unlock development in a new basin. In Uganda, where the Tilenga and EACOP projects are on track to start next year, the company has already created more than 20,000 jobs, invested $1.2 billion locally, and delivered 1.5 million training hours. “We are not just operating here,” Sangster said, “we are growing with Africa, investing in its people, and helping the continent realize its full energy potential.”
He also spoke passionately about producing differently, pointing to tangible progress in reducing emissions. In Gabon, TotalEnergies has eliminated routine flaring by redesigning facilities to compress and monetize gas that once would have been wasted.
Tackling methane, he admitted, is harder, but the company has launched a program that will see more than 13,000 high-tech detection devices deployed across its assets by the end of next year. “This is about producing differently — reducing emissions while delivering energy,” he explained, making clear that the twin priorities of growth and responsibility must go hand in hand.
But Sangster was just as eager to highlight that Africa’s future cannot rest on oil and gas alone. He painted a broader picture, one where renewables, gas, and clean cooking fuels all play a role. Today, TotalEnergies is building or operating 1.1 gigawatts of renewable capacity across the continent, from South Africa to Uganda and Zambia.
Gas, meanwhile, has the power to both close part of Africa’s energy gap and stimulate industrialization. He offered a small but telling example: the push by many African countries over the past decade to encourage households to switch to LPG for cooking. It is a change that doesn’t make global headlines, but he called it transformative — improving health, cutting emissions, and supporting local economies. “We are proud to contribute to this effort,” he said, setting an ambition to give millions access to clean cooking by 2030.
The close of his speech brought together the urgency, optimism, and partnership that had threaded through his remarks. Quoting Nelson Mandela — “It always seems impossible until it’s done” — Sangster told delegates that Africa’s journey toward a just and sustainable energy future would prove the truth of those words yet again.
“In energy, I have seen this proven time and again,” he reflected. “Africa will prove it once more. By working together, with respect and strong partnership, Africa shapes its own future. Africa is an opportunity. Africa is energy,”said Mike Sangster.
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