By: Oil & gas middle east

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais champions Africa’s untapped oil potential.

Since assuming office in 2022, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais has consistently highlighted Africa’s untapped potential, with reserves estimated at 120 billion barrels.

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais steps up calls for greater investment in Africa’s oil and gas sector, stressing the continent’s role in meeting global energy demand.

He has consistently highlighted Africa’s untapped potential. Earlier this year at Nigeria’s International Energy Summit, he described unlocking that potential as an “utmost priority” for OPEC, framing it as essential for long-term energy security.

He also points to frontier producers such as Namibia — where major offshore discoveries could bring first oil by the next decade — as examples of Africa’s growing importance. OPEC, he says, is ready to support new entrants as they move toward production.

Al Ghais’ latest remarks come ahead of his participation in African Energy Week in Cape Town, where he is expected to reinforce OPEC’s backing for African producers and outline strategies for attracting investment into the sector.