East Africa Holds 9 Billion Barrels of Oil, Set to Discuss Potential at 2027 Summit

East Africa's petroleum resources stand at more than 9 billion barrels of oil in place and over 60 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, with more still being found through active exploration, the East African Community (EAC) said as it announced plans for the 12th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (EAPCE'27).

The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) said the conference will take place at the Kigali Convention Centre from March 9 to 11, 2027, bringing together government leaders, investors and energy companies to discuss the region's oil and gas potential.

Region's resources still being mapped

The EAC region has a combined population of more than 330 million people and has become a major destination for energy, oil and gas investment. Exploration programmes across the region continue to add to the resource estimates already recorded.

Rwanda, as host of the 2027 conference, has its own contribution to this resource base. The country carries out active hydrocarbon exploration in the Lake Kivu Basin, part of the Albertine Rift, and already extracts methane gas from the lake for power generation, a resource officials describe as distinctive in the region's energy mix.

EAC Secretary General, Amb. Stephen Mbundi, said the petroleum conference has become a cornerstone of the Community's work on regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and investment in energy.

"As East Africa continues to strengthen its energy landscape, EAPCE'27 will provide an important platform for advancing dialogue, fostering partnerships and supporting the region's long-term development aspirations," he said.

Conference to focus on exploration and investment

EAPCE is the EAC's petroleum and energy conference, held every two years and hosted in turn by member states. It began in 2003 and has grown into a platform for policy dialogue, investment promotion, technical knowledge exchange and business development in the petroleum sector.

The 2027 edition carries the theme "From Energy Resources to Prosperity: Driving Energy Security, Growth and Global Competitiveness."

Sessions will cover exploration, production and infrastructure development, along with legal and regulatory frameworks across the petroleum value chain. Organisers also plan sessions for sharing information, experience and technology within the industry.

Chief Executive Officer of RMB, Alice Uwase, said hosting the conference shows Rwanda's commitment to regional cooperation and to positioning East Africa as a destination for energy investment.

"We look forward to welcoming energy leaders, investors and innovators to Kigali to showcase East Africa's immense potential and advance a shared vision for energy security, sustainable development and shared prosperity," she said.

More than 1,000 delegates are expected, including policymakers, investors, international oil and gas companies, service providers, financiers, academics and technology innovators from across East Africa and beyond.

Planned sessions include ministerial and high-level policy talks, technical presentations and panel discussions, business-to-business networking, international exhibitions of products and services, investment promotion sessions, and field visits.

Ways to take part are now open. Sponsors and partners can choose headline, tiered or in-kind packages with brand visibility. Delegates can register at http://www.eapce.eac.int, with discounted rates for EAC participants and students, plus early-bird and group offers.

RMB and the EAC have invited all stakeholders in the petroleum industry to take part in EAPCE'27 in Kigali next year.