The Iran war has cut off a fifth of global oil and LNG supply, handing African producers “a structural advantage” in supplying global markets, although their capacity is hampered by factors beyond the Middle East conflict, according to analysts. “West and North African exports are largely insulated from the conflict, meaning barrels from Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Algeria and Libya are viewed as lower-risk alternatives,” said Grace Goodrich and Anne-Laure Klein of Energy, Capital & Power, a Cape Town-based energy risk advisory firm focused on Africa. For European and Asian buyers, these volumes were now preferred for their cheaper insurance and predictable delivery times, they said in a report published on March 9. AdvertisementYet African producers have failed to capitalise. 01:10 Trump says Iran has given a major energy-related ‘present’ to the US Trump says Iran has given a major energy-related ‘present’ to the USA combination of conflicts, underinvestment and Western energy transition politics ensured that capacity was never developed.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 25, 2026 13:53 UTC