Africa’s Onshore Oil and Gas Sector Set for Significant Growth

As African hydrocarbon-rich nations work to accelerate economic growth, expand energy access, and shape global energy security, the continent’s onshore basins are emerging as critical frontiers. Several high-impact onshore drilling campaigns are scheduled for 2025 and beyond to unlock Africa’s 125 billion barrels of crude oil and 632 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to advance local content and infrastructure development.

South Africa

South Africa is making strides in its onshore gas sector, with Australian firm Kinetiko Energy raising $2.2 million in mid-June 2025 to support its drilling campaign at the Brakfontein site. The initiative includes a five-well production test and additional exploratory wells aimed at developing a strategy to unlock an estimated six trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.

Angola

In Angola, momentum is building across multiple onshore blocks. In May 2025, Etu Energias, alongside partners Sonangol and Gesprocon, signed a Risk Service Contract for onshore Block CON 4, initiating a five-year exploration program with a 20-year production horizon. The agreement aligns with Angola’s National Development Plan (2023–2027), focused on maximizing resource monetization. Corcel and Sintana Energy also announced a joint venture to conduct exploration in Block KON-16 in May 2025. The joint venture will also explore exploration and production prospects across other onshore basins in Angola.. In December 2024, local energy firm ACREP revealed plans to commence exploration in the Cabinda Norte Block in the second half of 2025.

Namibia

Namibia continues to attract global exploration investments, with ReconAfrica advancing its drilling efforts in the Damara Fold Belt. The company plans to drill multiple wells near the Naingopo prospect and Kavango West 1X, supported by a recent C$10 million public share offering. The campaign will be bolstered by a 3D seismic acquisition in the second half of 2025 as part of ReconAfrica’s broader $10 billion exploration and development investment strategy in the country.

Libya

In Libya, the drive to increase oil production to 2 million barrels per day is pushing several onshore projects forward. Since early 2025, Austria’s OMV has been drilling in the Sirte Basin, and Spain’s Repsol has resumed operations in the Muammal Nasr Basin. Meanwhile, energy majors Eni and TotalEnergies announced new exploration plans in the Sirte and Murzuq basins during the Libya Energy & Economic Forum in January 2025.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is also advancing its onshore ambitions. Invictus Energy is preparing to drill the Musuma-1 well in the second half of 2025, targeting 1.2 trillion cubic feet of gas and 73 million barrels of condensate. This marks the company’s first well outside the Mukuyu prospect. In addition, Invictus Energy secured a three-year extension for its SG 4571 license in January 2025, enabling 3D seismic data acquisition and further appraisal drilling for the Mukuyu prospect.

Uganda

In Uganda, the push towards first oil in 2026 is being reinforced by additional onshore exploration programs aimed at increasing the country’s hydrocarbons reserves. More than 300 wells are expected to be drilled from the Tilenga project starting in 2025, with new exploration activity also planned in the recently opened Moroto-Kadam and Kyoga basins.