US president Donald Trump’s re-election represents a pivotal moment for Africa’s fossil fuel industry, energy advocacy group African Energy Chamber (AEC) said earlier this year.

The Trump administration’s swift reapproval of a $4.7-billion loan from the US Export-Import Bank for TotalEnergies’ liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Mozambique set the tone for what could be a “transformative era” for Africa’s energy sector.

The loan was initially greenlit in 2020 during Trump’s first term but was sent into ‘deep-freeze’ for the full duration the Biden administration.

Despite Mozambique’s stabilisation of security issues, and concerns that the transfer of power in the US would further delay receipt of the loan, the Biden administration refused to release the funds ahead of Trump’s inauguration.

This decision reflected that administration’s reluctance to support new fossil fuel initiatives.

In contrast, Trump’s action – within weeks of taking office – seemingly signalled a renewed working relationship between the US and Africa; one that would prioritise energy development over ideological objections. However, the Trump administration’s recent imposition of tariffs on most countries, including a 16% general tariff on Mozambique’s products, at the time of writing, has likely dampened the initial positive sentiment towards Trump’s seeming enthusiasm for African energy investment.

Before Trump’s tariff blitz on “Liberation Day” on April 2, the AEC contended that Africa should seize the “potentially brief moment in history” where fossil fuel investment is not a ‘non-starter’ and “embrace the Trump administration as a partner rather than an opponent”.

The AEC stressed that “for too long”, global pressures insisted that African nations move toward green energy projects and ignore or exclude their fossil fuel reserves.

It averred that, while renewable energy “has its place”, and will be important to Africa’s future, fossil fuels still “clearly constitute the backbone of any realistic efforts for African industrialisation and economic growth – goals we simply cannot afford to side-line”.

The organisation suggested that alignment with Trump’s energy-first ethos would allow Africa to unlock significant funding for wide-ranging fossil fuel projects, “not just the offshore oil and gas ventures that dominate the headlines”.

“The continent should capitalise on all opportunities in onshore projects, wildcat wells – exploratory drilling in unproven areas – and the proliferation of numerous small operators.”

These options would help to diversify Africa’s energy portfolio, facilitate job creation, and strengthen energy security, the AEC posited.

It cited the Mozambique LNG project as evidence. “The project’s revival under Trump demonstrates how quickly thick bureaucratic congestion can dissolve when political will aligns with economic practicality. This $4.7-billion infusion will boost Mozambique’s economy while sending a message to other African nations: Under Trump, at long last, America is open for business.”

Further, in contrast to the previous administration, which openly regarded fossil fuel development with scepticism and disdain, Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” mantra – while rooted in an “America First” agenda – pairs “seamlessly” with the ambitions of the African oil and gas industry.

The AEC expressed a belief that Africa should adopt a similar mindset, positioning itself as an attractive destination for US investment.

Balancing Development and Climate Realities
Though critics will argue that this push for fossil fuel proliferation contradicts global climate goals, the AEC insists that the calculations for Africa are different.

“Africa accounts for a fraction of global emissions but bears a disproportionate burden when it comes to energy poverty. Fossil fuels offer a realistic and relatively quick path to electrification and industrialisation, the proven prerequisites for lifting millions out of poverty.”

The organisation suggested that Trump’s indifference to international climate orthodoxy, while controversial, gives Africa the much-needed breathing room to prioritise development over decarbonisation.

“This is in no way an outright rejection of renewables but a recognition that fossil fuels can and will facilitate a just transition to green technologies once their capabilities catch up to Africa’s current needs.”

Seize the Moment
The next four years under Trump could redefine Africa’s energy landscape, stressed the AEC.

“With US interference a thing of the past, Africa can pursue a multi-pronged energy strategy. With a ramp-up in natural gas to meet global demand, a coal revival to power its own grids, and on- and offshore opportunities tapped into, Africa can finally secure its full resource base.”

However, this approach would require bold leadership. “Governments will have to eliminate obstructive policies and address security challenges head-on to secure foreign investments.”

The organisation suggested that the “payoff” could be significant: energy abundance, economic growth and a partnership with the US that is “stronger than ever before”.

It further proposed that South Africa, with its vast coal deposits, could take the lead on clean coal technologies to balance affordability and environmental concerns, while smaller nations with untapped coal reserves could follow Trump’s lead in defying global pressures against coal production.

The result would be a continent that is “less dependent on foreign aid and more capable of powering its own future”.

“Trump’s presidency offers Africa a chance to unapologetically double down on its fossil fuel potential,” the AEC enthused, adding that the $4.7-billion Mozambique loan was “just the beginning”.

The organisation commented that Trump’s second term could be remembered as “the moment Africa’s fossil fuel industry came into its own – as a partner to the US in a shared vision of energy abundance”.