Speaking ahead of the Angola Oil & Gas conference and exhibition on September 2, Elitsa Georgeiva, Executive Director, CITAC highlighted that Africa’s oil demand has doubled since 2000, reaching 201 million tons – or 4.4 million barrels per day – in 2023, representing a 2.2% year-on-year increase.

According to Georgeiva, who spoke during the Mid- and Downstream Infrastructure Requirements and Developments in Sub-Saharan Africa session – sponsored by CITAC – North Africa recorded the strongest growth at 5.8%, reaching 86.8 million tons, with jet fuel and fuel oil driving the surge.

Despite this growth, refinery output across the continent has declined by more than 25% over the past decade, with West and Central African refineries covering only 15% of local demand. This imbalance between output and consumption underscores the continent’s reliance on imports and exposes supply chains to risks.

Georgeiva indicated that systemic challenges, including shallow draft ports, congested berths, small tank capacities and limited pipeline networks operating at full capacity. With 83% of oil products transported by road, supply chains face delays, high transport costs and vulnerabilities to single points of failure.

“Looking forward, the most important thing is planning, logistics and investment in infrastructure. This is what will drive demand for products,” stated Georgeiva, adding, “We have identified three main drivers: economic growth, population growth and urbanization patterns, and the energy transition.”

Georgeiva concluded the presentation by highlighting that, with demand growth accelerating and refining capacity lagging opportunities for investment in storage facilities, pipelines, terminals and modern refineries are expanding.