Former mines minister calls for rapid oil and gas development
Former mines minister Tom Alweendo has called for a sharper, more disciplined approach to Africa’s oil and gas development, arguing that the continent is “investable now” if it focuses on ending energy poverty, powering industry, and cutting emissions intensity with speed and standards.
In a recent LinkedIn post ahead of Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, he outlined three strategic pillars that he believes are critical for the continent’s energy future: energy security and sustainability, global collaboration, and policy and regulatory certainty.
On energy security, he stressed the importance of “dependable molecules” to power homes, industry, transport, and clean cooking. He argued that without midstream infrastructure—pipelines, processing plants, storage facilities, and LPG/LNG distribution—markets cannot function. He urged African producers to “kill the flare, fix the leaks, and count the methane,” underscoring that controlling emissions is as important as generating supply.
The second pillar, global collaboration, emphasised the need for partnerships that prioritise bankability over headline-grabbing announcements. He urged African governments and operators to standardise contracts and processes in order to speed up dealmaking, ensure payment security, and transfer technology through joint ventures that also localise value creation.
On policy and regulation, he insisted that “investors can price risk, not confusion.” Clear rules, predictable deadlines, stable fiscal terms, and transparent pricing frameworks were described as essential to attracting long-term capital. He also called for open access to pipelines and terminals, bankable supply and power purchase agreements, and a firm commitment to decommissioning from the outset of projects. Importantly, he drew a line between “local content” that builds capacity and “local rent” that deters investment.
Beyond principles, he proposed five urgent steps African governments and industry should deliver within 12 months:
Publish an upstream and gas-to-market pipeline — including blocks, milestones, contacts, and timelines.
Secure financing for an anchor project — such as gas-to-power or gas-to-industry with credible payment guarantees.
Run a fast, transparent flare-to-value and methane abatement tender — with results delivered in months, not years.
Clear bottlenecks for midstream projects — by fast-tracking permits and pre-FEED studies that unlock multiple opportunities.
Launch an oil and gas skills pact — to certify welders, pipefitters, drillers, electricians, and control-room operators to global standards.
He concluded with a pointed reminder: “Let’s move molecules, not just microphones.”
In a recent LinkedIn post ahead of Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, he outlined three strategic pillars that he believes are critical for the continent’s energy future: energy security and sustainability, global collaboration, and policy and regulatory certainty.
On energy security, he stressed the importance of “dependable molecules” to power homes, industry, transport, and clean cooking. He argued that without midstream infrastructure—pipelines, processing plants, storage facilities, and LPG/LNG distribution—markets cannot function. He urged African producers to “kill the flare, fix the leaks, and count the methane,” underscoring that controlling emissions is as important as generating supply.
The second pillar, global collaboration, emphasised the need for partnerships that prioritise bankability over headline-grabbing announcements. He urged African governments and operators to standardise contracts and processes in order to speed up dealmaking, ensure payment security, and transfer technology through joint ventures that also localise value creation.
On policy and regulation, he insisted that “investors can price risk, not confusion.” Clear rules, predictable deadlines, stable fiscal terms, and transparent pricing frameworks were described as essential to attracting long-term capital. He also called for open access to pipelines and terminals, bankable supply and power purchase agreements, and a firm commitment to decommissioning from the outset of projects. Importantly, he drew a line between “local content” that builds capacity and “local rent” that deters investment.
Beyond principles, he proposed five urgent steps African governments and industry should deliver within 12 months:
Publish an upstream and gas-to-market pipeline — including blocks, milestones, contacts, and timelines.
Secure financing for an anchor project — such as gas-to-power or gas-to-industry with credible payment guarantees.
Run a fast, transparent flare-to-value and methane abatement tender — with results delivered in months, not years.
Clear bottlenecks for midstream projects — by fast-tracking permits and pre-FEED studies that unlock multiple opportunities.
Launch an oil and gas skills pact — to certify welders, pipefitters, drillers, electricians, and control-room operators to global standards.
He concluded with a pointed reminder: “Let’s move molecules, not just microphones.”
