The Time is Right for Upgrading China-Africa Energy Cooperation

On June 12, the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo was held in Changsha. The theme of this year's expo is "China and Africa Act Together: Pursuing Modernization." Achieving modernization is a shared dream for the people of China and Africa, and also a key theme of the China-Africa community with a shared future. Data shows that in 2024, trade volume between China and Africa reached $295.6 billion, increasing by 4.8% year-on-year and setting a new historical record for the fourth consecutive year. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 years. Economic and trade cooperation has long served as the "ballast" and "engine" of China-Africa collaboration. Over the years, complementary advantages in energy sectors have become increasingly evident, opening broader prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Complementary Needs and Interests

China and African countries exhibit strong complementarity in economic and industrial structures, with energy being a key area of cooperation.

To date, Sinopec has implemented 33 projects across 12 African countries, including oil and gas investments, petroleum engineering, and refining projects, making positive contributions to building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

On April 5, the LNG carrier "Kinsis" departed from the Coral FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas) facility in Mozambique’s Area 4, marking the historic 100th shipment of LNG from the Coral-1 project in which CNPC participates. This milestone not only signifies a new phase in project operations but also highlights CNPC’s technological capabilities in deepwater natural gas development and its leadership role in global energy cooperation.

Over nearly 30 years in Africa, CNPC has leveraged its integrated upstream, midstream, and downstream value chain, operating nearly 60 oil and gas projects in over 20 African countries such as Niger, Chad, Mozambique, and Nigeria. These cover the entire industrial chain—from exploration and production, pipeline transportation, refining and petrochemicals, engineering technology, construction, to supply of materials and equipment—promoting the development of host countries’ oil industries.

Since China began importing oil and gas from Africa in 1995, a diversified trade structure has gradually emerged, effectively boosting economic development on both sides. In 2023, China imported crude oil from 12 African countries including Angola, Congo, and Libya, accounting for 18.8% of Africa’s total crude exports; it imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) from six African countries including Nigeria, Algeria, and Angola, representing 4.8% of Africa’s total LNG exports.

In recent years, China has also exported photovoltaic products to African countries, supporting the construction of green energy infrastructure such as solar power stations. Since 2020, exports of China’s “new three essentials”—lithium batteries, electric vehicles, and photovoltaic products—to Africa have surged. In 2023, trade in these “new three” items between China and Africa reached $3.6 billion, doubling compared to 2022.

Meeting Social Needs

The development of China-Africa relations is an ongoing process with no endpoint. Driven by Chinese energy enterprises, a series of “symbolic, small yet beautiful” projects have precisely addressed African needs, becoming new highlights.

For many years, while actively engaging in energy cooperation with African countries, Sinopec has also focused on improving livelihoods, completing numerous well-received public welfare projects. Collectively, these form Sinopec’s livelihood brand in Senegal—the “Rural Well-Digging Project”—a testament to China-Africa friendship and cooperation.

"Thanks to Sinopec for building the road—our fruits won’t rot on the trees anymore. My family’s avocados are now being sold in China," said Kenyan fruit farmer Robi joyfully, after a rural road constructed by Petroleum Engineering Corporation officially opened. While cooperating on energy projects with African partners, Sinopec has used its strengths in equipment and construction experience to provide infrastructure services, helping build bridges, roads, irrigation channels, and communities.

CNPC Group’s involvement in Chad’s integrated upstream and downstream project led to the creation of an oilfield with annual capacity of 6 million tons, a 508-kilometer pipeline, and a refinery processing 1 million tons annually—making significant contributions to Chad’s energy security and socio-economic development, enhancing local people’s sense of gain and happiness, and supporting livelihood improvements.

Monique Nsanzabaganwa, former Vice Chairperson of the African Union Commission, said that China-Africa cooperation has turned deserts into fertile land, enabling Africa’s natural resources to truly become drivers of development.

Mutual Benefit and Win-Win Outcomes

African leaders stated that the theme of this expo—"China and Africa Act Together: Pursuing Modernization"—resonates widely across African nations. The "Ten Partnership Actions" have opened new doors of opportunity for Africa, and they look forward to expanding comprehensive cooperation in trade and investment, industrial parks, green energy, digital transformation, and agricultural modernization.

Momentum for investment cooperation continues to grow. Over the years, practical cooperation between China and Africa in the energy sector has deepened significantly, achieving notable results in energy infrastructure development, energy trade, upstream and midstream oil and gas projects, green energy development, and energy finance. With abundant energy resources, Africa complements China’s vast market and complete manufacturing system. This synergy in resources, markets, and industries has injected strong momentum into rapid economic growth on both sides, delivering tangible outcomes.

In energy, China is a key partner in Africa’s energy transition, having implemented hundreds of clean energy and green development projects under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), covering solar, hydropower, wind, and geothermal energy, helping Africa achieve green, low-carbon, and high-quality development. Moreover, cooperation between China and Africa is also growing closer in traditional industry upgrading, manufacturing development, agricultural modernization, climate change response, and artificial intelligence.

China’s further opening-up and the spillover effects of developing new quality productive forces will create fresh opportunities for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. China’s new development philosophy embodied in advancing new quality productive forces aligns closely with Africa’s current socioeconomic development needs, transformation goals, and future strategies and visions.

As stated in China’s white paper "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals," China is the world’s largest developing country, and Africa is the continent with the highest concentration of developing countries. Shared historical experiences and common missions have closely linked China and Africa. Strengthening solidarity and cooperation with African countries remains a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy and a long-term, firm strategic choice.