OPEC Projects Nearly Double Oil Demand in Africa by 2050
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has reported that Africa’s oil demand is set to nearly double by 2050. This increase is part of a broader global trend, with overall primary energy demand expected to rise from 312 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (mboe/d) to approximately 383 mboe/d within the same timeframe, a growth of around 23% largely driven by developing nations.
In its recently released 20th edition of the World Oil Outlook for 2026, OPEC highlighted Africa’s role in the anticipated growth in energy consumption. The continent’s population is projected to rise from over 1.5 billion in 2025 to nearly 2.5 billion by 2050, necessitating a significant increase in energy resources.
During his address at the African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town, Dr. Abderrezak Benyoucef, Head of the Energy Studies Department at OPEC, indicated that all sectors of energy demand in Africa are expected to expand significantly by 2050. Specifically, he noted that oil demand in Africa is forecasted to grow from 4.9 mb/d in 2025 to 9.2 mb/d by 2050, representing an approximate 88% increase. This demand surge is attributed to rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrial development, with the transport sector poised to account for nearly 60% of this increase.
Furthermore, Benyoucef outlined expectations for natural gas demand in Africa to double over the same period. The report also anticipates strong growth in renewable energy sources, including hydro, wind, solar, and biomass, which is projected to add an additional 4 mboe/d to the energy supply, predominantly from biomass. Meanwhile, the demand for coal is expected to see only a marginal increase, and nuclear energy demand will remain limited.
On a global scale, OPEC predicts that total electricity generation will rise significantly, increasing from approximately 32,000 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2025 to around 59,500 TWh by 2050. This growth will be fueled by rising demand across various sectors, including residential, commercial, industrial, transport, and data centers. Notably, wind and solar energy are expected to see substantial increases in their contribution to the electricity generation mix, expanding from about 5,400 TWh in 2025 to approximately 26,000 TWh by 2050.
