APPO, GECF Join Forces on Africa's Energy Security

The African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on oil and gas, with the partnership expected to support knowledge sharing, joint research and efforts to improve Africa's energy security.

The agreement was signed on 20 July 2026 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, by APPO Secretary General Farid Ghezali and GECF Secretary General Philip Mshelbila, during a ceremony attended by Congo's Minister of Hydrocarbons, Stev Simplice Onanga.

The partnership provides a framework for the two organisations to exchange data, information, technical knowledge and industry experience while working together on issues of shared interest.

The agreement is significant for Africa because the continent holds substantial oil and gas resources but continues to face serious energy access challenges. Closer cooperation between APPO and GECF could help African producers make better use of their gas resources, improve policy coordination and develop practical solutions for expanding gas supply for electricity generation, industries and households.

It could also give African oil and gas producers greater access to the experience of major gas-exporting countries as the global energy market changes and countries seek to balance energy security, economic development and the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Partnership targets joint studies and conferences

Ghezali described the GECF as an important platform for gas-producing countries to exchange knowledge and experience. He expressed the hope that the new agreement would lead to practical results rather than remain limited to formal discussions.

Mshelbila commended APPO's efforts to address the challenges facing Africa's oil and gas producers and pledged the GECF's support for turning the agreement into concrete programmes, including joint studies, publications, bilateral meetings and conferences.

The partnership could help both organisations develop a stronger shared understanding of issues affecting the African energy market and identify areas where cooperation can support investment and infrastructure development.

Onanga, who attended the ceremony as guest of honour, welcomed the agreement and encouraged both organisations to maintain close coordination. He described stronger cooperation as important to Africa's efforts to improve energy independence and advance projects aimed at expanding access to reliable energy.

The GECF, headquartered in Doha, Qatar, brings together major gas-exporting countries and serves as a platform for dialogue on global gas markets, with a focus on strengthening cooperation between producers and consumers and supporting stable and secure gas supplies.

For APPO member countries, the agreement comes as African governments seek to expand domestic gas use while attracting investment into production, processing and distribution infrastructure. The success of the new partnership will therefore depend on whether the two organisations can translate their cooperation into research, policy support and projects that address the continent's persistent energy supply gaps.