By: Oil & gas middle east

In a significant policy address, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has called for a renewed era of energy cooperation between the United States and Africa, positioning the continent as a strategic partner and a rising global hub for energy investment. The remarks, made at African Energy Week in Cape Town, signal a coordinated U.S. push to deepen engagement amid growing competition from China and Gulf nations.

Speaking to attendees, Senator Cruz framed Africa as “the U.S. partnership alternative to China” and emphasized that Washington’s engagement should focus on investment-led commercial diplomacy rather than aid. He pointed to the energy-driven economic model of his home state, Texas, as a blueprint for how the U.S. could support Africa's industrial growth through the development of its vast oil, gas, and renewable resources.

A Coordinated U.S. Push

The senator’s vision was echoed by senior U.S. energy officials, indicating a unified government effort. A U.S.–Africa Energy Roundtable held at the event was supported by agencies including the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).

Andrew Rapp, Senior Advisor at the DOE, stated the department aims to act as a catalyst for private investment across Africa’s energy value chain. Josh Volz, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the DOE, highlighted the scale of existing U.S. commitment, citing $65 billion in existing private-sector investment and a $2.5 billion pledge made under the previous administration to support African energy expansion.

Major Projects Underpin Strategy

The renewed diplomatic focus is backed by substantial American-led projects currently underway across the continent:

• Mozambique LNG: EXIM approved a $4.7 billion loan for a project expected to produce 13.1 million tonnes of LNG per annum.
• Nigeria: ExxonMobil plans to invest $1.5 billion in the Usan deepwater field and is targeting a final investment decision on the $30 billion Rovuma LNG project in Mozambique by 2026.
• Mauritania & Senegal: Kosmos Energy is a key player in the $4.8 billion Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project.

Natural gas and LPG development remain central to the cooperation, with U.S. officials reiterating a commitment to supporting African energy independence through technology and capital.

This concerted effort underscores a broader U.S. policy shift toward strategic commercial engagement as it seeks to reinforce its presence in one of the world's most dynamic energy frontiers.