French energy giant TotalEnergies has reaffirmed its strategic focus on Africa, announcing that the continent receives the largest portion of its global exploration budget.
Speaking at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Forum in Paris, Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President for Africa at TotalEnergies, highlighted the continent’s strategic importance to the company.
He stated that Africa is not only central to TotalEnergies’ exploration efforts but also accounts for half of the company’s operated production globally.
“Africa remains at the heart of our exploration strategy,” Sangster stated. “The largest part of our exploration budget is in Africa, reflecting our commitment to the continent’s energy future.”
TotalEnergies’ expanding African energy portfolio
TotalEnergies is currently active in several African countries, developing projects across the oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors.
In Namibia, for instnce, the company is appraising the Venus-1 deepwater discovery, with a final investment decision (FID) expected by Q4 2026.
Sangster described the site as “extremely remote—300 km offshore and 1,900 meters deep,” noting that most of the associated gas will need to be reinjected.
The first oil from Venus is expected by 2029.
In South Africa, TotalEnergies is awaiting permitting approvals and aims to begin drilling in 2026.
In the Republic of Congo, a $500 million investment is advancing production at the Moho Nord deepwater field, while in Nigeria, the company is ramping up gas developments to boost domestic energy access and increase exports.
“It’s important to monetize gas and its reservoirs,” Sangster explained. “In Nigeria, there are significant reserves, and we are actively developing this sector. There are high-quality fields that can also serve export markets.”
In addition, the company plans to sanction the $750 million Ima gas project in Nigeria in 2025, complementing its ongoing $500 million Ubeta onshore gas development.
In Mozambique, TotalEnergies is also leading a large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, backed by major financiers such as U.S. Eximbank and export credit agencies from the UK and the Netherlands.
“Part of our growth target is focused on LNG,” Sangster said. “We’ve eliminated routine flaring in Nigeria, Gabon, and Angola. In the Republic of Congo, we will eliminate flaring this year.”
Commitment to integrated energy and renewables
Speaking further, Sangster emphasized the importance of a diversified, multi-energy approach, listing TotalEnergies’ investment in renewables, green hydrogen, and mining as part of a broader energy transition strategy.
“Our multi-energy strategy is about balancing oil, gas, and renewables to meet Africa’s growing energy needs sustainably,” he said.
The company’s rebranding from Total to TotalEnergies has come with a significant shift toward integrated energy systems, with its African renewable energy portfolio expanding rapidly.
“It makes sense to expand integrated energy activities,” Sangster added.
