Nigeria, Algeria, and Egypt are anticipated to be the primary drivers of a gas supply surge, collectively contributing around 80% of the total African gas production. Experts respond to the development, highlighting both opportunities and obstacles on the horizon.



According to the State of African Energy report in August by the African Energy Chamber, Nigeria, Algeria and Egypt are anticipated to be the primary drivers of a gas supply surge, collectively contributing around 80% of the total African gas production.



The report forecasts short-term natural gas supply in Africa poised for growth, projecting an increase from this year&#8217;s supply levels of 25.5 Bcf/d to slightly over 27 Bcf/d in 2024, maintaining this level until 2027.



It indicates, &#8220;Algeria is expected to experience growth from 10 Bcf/d in 2023 to 11 Bcf/d by 2027. Egypt&#8217;s production is expected to remain steady at 6.25 Bcf/d. Nigeria&#8217;s output is expected to fluctuate marginally between 4.5 Bcf/d and 5.5 Bcf/d.&#8221;



Reacting to this development, Kelvin Emmanuel, an economist, highlights that one of the key challenges impacting the African gas landscape is the ongoing diplomatic impasse in the Sahel region.



Emmanuel explains to FORBES AFRICA: &#8220;The 4,128-km gas pipeline linking the AKK pipeline from Kano through Niger Republic to Algeria was intended to supply the trans-Mediterranean pipeline. The inability of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to find a diplomatic solution to the Sahel impasse jeopardizes this vital project, as well as the capacity of Nigeria, Algeria, and Egypt to surpass other producers like Tanzania and Mozambique.&#8221;



He further underscores Russia&#8217;s influence on gas dynamics, pointing out that the embargo on Russian gas and the inability to secure letters of credit (LC) for gas exports from Nord Stream I and II have led to a demand-supply gap in the African gas market.



Emmanuel elaborates that while the Nigeria Morocco Gas Pipeline and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline were initially designed to address Europe&#8217;s energy needs, complex strategic considerations and the global competition for influence have complicated the situation.



&#8220;Understanding the geopolitical forces at play and the interplay of economic interests with the Sahel&#8217;s unfolding events is of utmost importance for achieving success,&#8221; says Emmanuel.



For Iheakanwah Felix Arinzeh, a financial expert and doctor of business administration, this &#8220;advantageous position&#8221; offers multiple benefits for the leading countries&#8217; economies and the broader African energy landscape.



Arinzeh shares with FORBES AFRICA that the countries&#8217; dominance &#8220;will streamline their ability to meet their domestic gas demand. In Nigeria, energy constitutes a significant production cost, particularly in the manufacturing sector. I anticipate that this cost component will experience a positive impact, potentially translating to more affordable products and services in Nigeria.&#8221;



He believes the increased prominence in the African gas market could lead to enhanced energy security.



&#8220;The countries will attain a more secure energy supply by relying less on imported gas. Consequently, their susceptibility to supply disruptions and price volatility will decrease. The increased use of gas will



contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, given that gas burns cleaner than coal or oil. This will improve air quality and mitigate climate change,&#8221; says Arinzeh.



Arinzeh also identifies this development as a magnet for foreign investment that could further stimulate growth in their respective gas sectors, benefiting not only their economies but also their foreign exchange earnings.



However, he acknowledges potential challenges: &#8220;There are also potential challenges associated with these countries dominating Africa&#8217;s gas supply market. If not properly managed, these countries may become overly reliant on gas exports, rendering their economies vulnerable to fluctuations in the global gas market. To maximize benefits and minimize risks, I strongly recommend that each of these countries diligently manage these challenges.&#8221;

Oil Refinery And Pipeline In Desert During Sunset

African Gas Supply Landscape: The Dominance Of Nigeria, Algeria And Egypt

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Barbie&nbsp;was pulled from theaters in Algeria this week, joining a growing list of countries that, despite the summer blockbuster’s widespread success, have banned the film because of its themes of gender and sexuality or because of the film’s alleged use of a controversial map. (Say what?)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



Algeria:&nbsp;Algeria’s Ministry of Culture and Arts notified cinemas in the cities of Algiers, Oram and Constantine earlier this week to “immediately” pull the movie, the Algerian news outlet 24H&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24hdz.com/le-film-barbie-interdit-en-salles-en-algerie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;(a source confirmed the news to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/algeria-bans-barbie-movie-media-official-source-say-2023-08-14/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reuters</a>).



Kuwait:&nbsp;On Thursday, officials in Kuwait announced they were banning the film because it promoted “ideas and beliefs that are alien to the Kuwaiti society and public order,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=3105733&amp;Language=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a>&nbsp;a statement published by the state-run KUNA news agency. (The statement did not cite any specific scenes that Kuwaiti censors found objectionable.)



Vietnam:&nbsp;Before the film premiered, officials in Vietnam&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/07/03/barbie-movie-banned-in-vietnam-over-controversial-map/?sh=7ec28cfc4ba7">announced</a>&nbsp;they were banning&nbsp;Barbie&nbsp;over a scene that included a map that appeared to show China’s contested territorial claims in the South China Sea—Warner Bros.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/07/07/warner-bros-defends-child-like-map-that-got-barbie-banned-in-vietnam/?sh=2702920437bd">disputed</a>&nbsp;the claim, describing the drawing as “child-like.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contra">CONTRA</h2>



Before it was banned,&nbsp;Barbie&nbsp;had sold out Algerian theaters every day since its July 19 release, the Algerian news outlet 24H&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24hdz.com/le-film-barbie-interdit-en-salles-en-algerie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



It’s not uncommon for countries, particularly Gulf nations, to ban movies or TV shows because the content goes against certain religious beliefs. A number of countries in the Middle East, for example, have&nbsp;<a href="https://deadline.com/2022/05/everything-everywhere-all-once-banned-middle-east-1235016780/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">banned</a>&nbsp;films that include gay characters, such as&nbsp;Everything Everywhere All At Once, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, Eternals&nbsp;and&nbsp;West Side Story.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-don-t-know">WHAT WE DON’T KNOW</h2>



It’s unclear how many other countries may ban the box office hit.&nbsp;Barbie&nbsp;is scheduled to premiere in theaters in Lebanon on August 31, but some officials have said they might follow the lead of other Middle Eastern countries and ban the movie from theaters. Lebanese culture minister Mohammad Mortada asked the interior ministry to ban&nbsp;Barbie&nbsp;because he said it contradicts “values of faith and morality” and promotes “homosexuality and sexual transformation,” the Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-barbie-movie-censorship-955390b933747bfc3f662022db2e4d9b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>. Mortada also said&nbsp;Barbie&nbsp;questioned the necessity of marriage and ridiculed the role of mothers, the&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/arts/barbie-ban-kuwait-lebanon.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



Barbie&nbsp;was nearly banned in the Philippines earlier this month. Following news of Vietnam’s decision to not air the film, officials in the Philippines launched a weeklong review of the film that included two review sessions and conversations among multiple government departments,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=741736454626335&amp;set=pcb.741736844626296" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a>&nbsp;a press release from the country’s Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. The board&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=741736454626335&amp;set=pcb.741736844626296" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">decided</a>&nbsp;the map included in the film did “not depict the ‘nine-dash line,’” a term used to describe China’s contested claims over the South China Sea, and instead the map “portrayed the route of the make-believe journey of Barbie.” In the statement, the board&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=741736454626335&amp;set=pcb.741736844626296" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noted</a>&nbsp;it has previously sanctioned filmmakers and distributions for exhibiting the fictitious nine-dash line in their films.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



$1,187,042,188. That’s how much money&nbsp;Barbie&nbsp;has grossed worldwide since it premiered in mid-July,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1077904129/?ref_=bo_hm_RECENT_WEEKEND_WIDGET_1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a>&nbsp;Box Office Mojo. Domestically&nbsp;Barbie&nbsp;has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1077904129/?ref_=bo_hm_RECENT_WEEKEND_WIDGET_1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earned</a>&nbsp;more than $526 million, making it the second-highest-grossing movie of the year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/08/12/barbie-breaks-500-million-at-us-box-office-further-cementing-itself-as-summers-blockbuster/?sh=4ba5ebde43f9">behind</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;Super Mario Bros. Movie.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Barbie&nbsp;has dominated the U.S. box office since it first opened in theaters in July and taken the top box office spot for the past four weeks. The film tells the live-action story of Mattel dolls Barbie and Ken. With an all-star cast—Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Michael Cera, Simu Liu, America Ferrera and Dua Lipa—and pop soundtrack produced by Mark Ronson, the film’s release was long awaited by many.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/07/03/barbie-movie-banned-in-vietnam-over-controversial-map/?sh=7ec28cfc4ba7">‘Barbie’ Movie Banned In Vietnam Over Controversial Map</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/arts/barbie-ban-kuwait-lebanon.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kuwait And Lebanon Look To Ban ‘Barbie’ For Moral Reasons</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)

The European Premiere of Barbie in London

‘Barbie’ Banned In Algeria—Here’s Where Else You Can’t See The Box Office Hit

The 2014 FIFA World Cup presents Africa with another chance to showcase its talent on the global stage and highlight the great strides that football has made on the continent.
It would be fair to say that the performances of the African teams in 2010 were disappointing, except for Ghana, who were a Luis Suarez handball away from the semifinals.
For the rest of the teams – Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Cameroon and hosts South Africa – it was an early first round exit.
All are back in 2014, except South Africa, and now older and wiser, fans should expect an improvement.
We could also see a new generation of African superstars emerge.
When looking for African players who could set the tournament alight, the choices are vast.
You would have to start with three of the greatest the continent has ever seen – Cote d’Ivoire legends Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré, as well as Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o.
Touré may make the 2018 event, but Drogba and Eto’o are surely taking part in their swansong World Cup.
<div id="attachment_2847" style="width: 229px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2847" class="size-medium wp-image-2847" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/140620368-219x300.jpg" alt="" width="219" height="300" />MANCHESTER, ENGLAND &#8211; MARCH 03: Yaya Toure of Manchester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium on March 3, 2012 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)</div>
The trio have won nine of the last 11 African Footballer of the Year prizes and in one of those years, 2007, it was handed to Frederic Kanoute when Drogba could not make the trophy presentation.
While Drogba’s best years are behind him, Touré is very much the man of the moment and his brilliant season with Manchester City makes him one to watch in Brazil.
Drogba could be used more as an impact player, but his experience and ability to conjure goals in moments of crisis is legendary. Perhaps Cote d’Ivoire might have made the second round four years ago had their talisman not been forced to play with a broken arm.
Eto’o is also not quite the master in front of goal of years gone by, but his guile and presence is enough to make him a danger for opposing defences.
These three have been the African giants of the past decade and will each be desperate to translate that into success come June and July.
But there are also other, less celebrated, players from the continent who could make names for themselves across the globe.
Ghana are a side packed with talent and players like Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Michael Essien and Kwadwo Asamoah are already household names.
But they have a young left-winger who has shown immense promise in recent times too, scoring almost every other game in his international appearances to date. Wakaso Mubarak plays for Rubin Kazan in the Russian Premier League and is a livewire with his pace and eye for goal. He will definitely get people talking.
Another to look out for is his compatriot Abdul Majeed Waris, a 22-year-old striker who cannot stop scoring for Valenciennes in the French Ligue 1 this season. He could be usurped by Asamoah Gyan if Ghana only play one striker, but could have an impact off the bench.
Cameroon wingback Allan Nyom showed in a recent friendly against Portugal that not only could he keep Cristiano Ronaldo quiet, but he is also a potent attacking threat.
He has spent the last five seasons on loan at Spanish La Liga side Granada, where he has honed his skills.
Another player on loan at Granada is Algerian playmaker Yacine Brahimi, who recently scored the winner against Barcelona. The former French junior international is in his second season in La Liga and grows every week, suggesting he will be a key element for the Algerians.
Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar went to the 2010 World Cup as an 18-year-old, but it was a little soon for the teenage prodigy. Now older and wiser, he has turned into a real goal-machine as Ligue 1 side Lorient have discovered.
Nigerian youngster Kenneth Omeruo may have been playing at English Championship side Middleborough on loan this season, but that is only because he is not deemed ready for the first team at Chelsea… yet.
However, the right-back, who can also play in the center of the defence, has been tipped as a future superstar and a good showing at the World Cup could accelerate his progress.
Super Eagles winger Victor Moses, on loan this past season at Liverpool from Chelsea, has talents that have been much admired, and soon the same may be said for Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi. He has come through the ranks at the Italian side to stake a regular spot this season and also cement his place in the Nigerian starting line-up.
He played almost every minute of Nigeria’s run to last year’s Africa Cup of Nations title and was an unsung hero for them. His hard work got the team on the front foot and allowed stars such as Moses to weave their magic.
Let’s see what happens in the World Cup that is likely to belong to one of the South American countries. Anything that Africa does is a bonus because, once again, no one is giving us

Tag: Algeria

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

African Gas Supply Landscape: The Dominance Of Nigeria, Algeria And Egypt

‘Barbie’ Banned In Algeria—Here’s Where Else You Can’t See The Box Office Hit

African Stars To Shine Over Brazil