By Daily Touch Insights Editorial Team
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ENERGY & INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY — Europe is intensifying efforts to secure alternative energy supplies from Africa as geopolitical tensions with Russia and uncertainty in its relationship with the United States reshape the continent's energy strategy ahead of another winter.
Africa is becoming increasingly important to Europe's efforts to diversify supplies of natural gas, oil and uranium, particularly as the European Union continues its long-term effort to reduce dependence on Russian energy.
The shift is turning North Africa and other resource-rich parts of the continent into increasingly important partners in Europe's search for energy security. 0
Europe Is Trying to Reduce Its Dependence on Russia
Russia was once one of Europe's most important energy suppliers.
Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian gas accounted for roughly 45% of EU gas imports.
The war fundamentally changed that relationship.
European governments accelerated efforts to reduce Russian energy imports, diversify suppliers and increase investment in alternative energy sources.
The EU has now adopted a roadmap aimed at ending Russian pipeline and liquefied natural gas imports, with the remaining imports scheduled to be phased out over the coming years. 1
Africa Is Becoming More Important to Europe's Gas Strategy
As Europe searches for alternatives, African gas producers have gained strategic importance.
North Africa is particularly valuable because of its geographical proximity to Europe and existing pipeline infrastructure.
Algeria has become one of Europe's most important African gas suppliers, with pipelines connecting the country directly to European markets.
Egypt and Libya are also important to Europe's broader energy diversification strategy.
The European Commission reported that North Africa supplied approximately 13% of EU gas imports in 2025. 2
Algeria Has a Strategic Advantage
Algeria's position makes it particularly important to Europe.
The country has substantial natural gas resources and established pipeline connections to southern Europe.
Unlike LNG shipments that require liquefaction, shipping and regasification, pipeline gas can move directly into European networks.
This geographical advantage makes Algeria one of the most practical African partners for European countries seeking to replace Russian supplies.
Nigeria Could Become Even More Important
Nigeria is another country attracting attention because of its enormous natural gas reserves.
The country possesses some of Africa's largest proven gas resources and already exports LNG to international markets.
Europe is also interested in projects that could eventually increase the movement of Nigerian gas toward the continent.
One of the most ambitious proposals is the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, which would connect Nigerian gas resources through Niger and Algeria toward European markets.
The project faces major financial, security and infrastructure challenges, meaning it should not be treated as an immediate replacement for Russian gas.
Egypt Offers Another Route Into European Energy Markets
Egypt has also become an important part of Europe's energy diversification efforts.
The country possesses significant gas infrastructure and LNG export capacity, allowing it to supply international markets by sea.
Egypt's geographical position also gives it strategic importance because it sits between major Middle Eastern energy producers and European consumers.
However, Egyptian gas production and domestic demand can influence how much gas is available for export.
Libya Has Resources but Faces Political Problems
Libya has significant oil and gas resources and is geographically close to Europe.
Its existing infrastructure provides a potential route for increasing energy exports toward European markets.
But political instability and security problems have repeatedly affected Libya's energy production and infrastructure.
That means Europe cannot rely on Libya in the same way it can rely on more stable suppliers.
Uranium Is Becoming Another Strategic Concern
Europe's energy diversification is not limited to oil and gas.
Uranium has become increasingly important because several European countries rely on nuclear power for electricity generation.
The European Union is also attempting to reduce dependence on Russian nuclear materials, including enriched uranium and other nuclear fuel-related products.
The European Commission has warned that nuclear supply chains can present security risks when they depend heavily on a single foreign supplier. 3
Africa Has Important Uranium Resources
Africa possesses some of the world's most important uranium resources.
Countries including Niger and Namibia have historically played significant roles in the global uranium market, while other African countries are seeking to develop their own mineral resources.
For Europe, African uranium could become part of a broader effort to diversify nuclear fuel supplies.
But uranium is more complicated than simply buying crude oil or LNG.
Mining, processing, conversion and enrichment are separate stages, and Europe must ensure that alternative supplies can actually fit into its nuclear fuel system.
Niger's Uranium Is Strategically Sensitive
Niger has long been an important uranium producer and has supplied European nuclear markets.
However, political instability and changing relations between Niger and Western governments have complicated the future of the country's uranium industry.
This illustrates an important problem for Europe's African strategy.
Replacing one geopolitical dependency with another does not automatically create energy security.
Europe must consider political stability, infrastructure, transportation, investment conditions and long-term reliability before treating any African country as a strategic substitute for Russia.
Europe Still Needs the United States
Although Europe is looking toward Africa, the continent has also become heavily dependent on American energy supplies since Russian gas deliveries declined.
U.S. LNG has become a major source of European gas.
In 2025, the United States supplied approximately 26% of EU gas imports, according to European Commission data. 4
This creates another strategic consideration.
Europe wants to diversify away from Russia, but excessive dependence on any single external supplier can create another vulnerability.
The Winter Is Driving the Urgency
Energy security becomes particularly important as winter approaches.
European households require more gas and electricity for heating during colder months, while industries also need reliable energy supplies to maintain production.
European gas storage levels have therefore become an important indicator of the continent's preparedness.
Recent analysis has warned that European gas inventories were relatively low for the time of year, increasing pressure to secure supplies before winter demand rises. 5
Europe Has Made Significant Progress Since 2022
It would be wrong to portray Europe as being in exactly the same position it was before the energy crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The EU has substantially reduced its dependence on Russian energy.
Russian gas's share of EU imports fell from around 45% in 2021 to 12% in 2025, according to the European Commission.
At the same time, Europe has increased LNG imports, expanded renewable energy and strengthened energy-storage requirements. 6
Africa Cannot Replace Russia Overnight
This is where the biggest misconception needs to be challenged.
Africa has enormous energy resources, but African supplies cannot simply replace all of Europe's former Russian energy flows overnight.
Infrastructure remains a major limitation.
Gas pipelines require years of planning and billions of dollars in investment, while LNG projects require expensive liquefaction facilities, shipping capacity and receiving infrastructure.
Political instability can also disrupt production and transportation.
Europe therefore needs a portfolio of suppliers rather than expecting one region to become the next Russia.
Africa Needs to Benefit From the Shift
The growing European interest in African energy also creates an opportunity for African economies.
Countries with large oil and gas reserves could attract new investment in production, pipelines, LNG facilities and electricity infrastructure.
Mineral-rich countries could also benefit from investment in uranium and other strategic resources.
But African governments must avoid simply becoming suppliers of raw materials without developing domestic industries around those resources.
The stronger strategy would be to use European demand to finance infrastructure, processing capacity, electricity generation and industrial development within Africa.
Europe's Energy Strategy Is Becoming More Global
Europe's energy policy is increasingly based on diversification.
Instead of relying overwhelmingly on one supplier, the EU is building relationships with Norway, the United States, North Africa, the Middle East and other energy-producing regions.
This reduces the possibility that a single geopolitical dispute can immediately threaten the continent's energy supply.
It also gives European governments greater flexibility when negotiating with individual suppliers.
Renewables Remain the Long-Term Solution
Europe's increased interest in African oil and gas should not be confused with a permanent return to fossil-fuel dependence.
The EU continues to invest heavily in renewable energy and other low-carbon sources.
Almost half of the energy produced within the EU in 2024 came from renewable sources, while nuclear energy also remained an important part of the electricity system. 7
The immediate challenge is therefore managing the transition without creating dangerous energy shortages.
The Real Competition Is for Reliable Energy
Europe's energy problem is not simply about finding the cheapest barrel of oil or the largest gas field.
The more important issue is reliability.
European governments need supplies that can reach consumers consistently, survive geopolitical disruptions and remain economically viable.
A supplier with enormous reserves is not necessarily useful if its infrastructure cannot deliver those resources to Europe.
What This Means for Africa
Africa's position in the global energy system could become significantly more important over the next decade.
Europe needs African resources, while African producers need investment and reliable markets.
That creates the possibility of a mutually beneficial relationship.
But African countries will need to negotiate carefully.
The objective should not simply be to replace Russia as Europe's supplier.
It should be to use Europe's demand to build stronger African energy industries and infrastructure.
Our Perspective
Europe's move toward Africa is strategically understandable, but describing Africa as Europe's "last energy lifeline" goes too far.
Europe has already diversified significantly through renewable energy, nuclear power, Norwegian supplies, American LNG and other international suppliers.
Africa is becoming an increasingly important part of that mix, especially because of its geographical proximity and substantial oil, gas and uranium resources.
The real opportunity is not for Africa to become Europe's new dependency. It is for Africa to become one of several indispensable partners in a more diversified global energy system.
Conclusion
Europe is strengthening its energy relationships with Africa as it reduces dependence on Russian supplies and faces continued uncertainty in global energy markets.
Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Nigeria could play important roles in Europe's gas strategy, while African uranium producers could become increasingly relevant as Europe works to diversify nuclear fuel supplies.
However, Africa cannot replace Russia's former role in Europe's energy system overnight. Infrastructure, investment, political stability and transportation capacity remain major obstacles.
For Europe, the objective is increasingly clear: diversify energy supplies and avoid becoming dependent on another single external supplier.
For Africa, the opportunity is equally significant: turn growing European demand for African resources into long-term investment, industrial development and stronger domestic energy systems.
Europe needs Africa's resources, but Africa should use this moment to build more than an export economy — it should build the energy infrastructure and industries capable of creating lasting economic power.
