Angola has rich natural resources, mainly oil and diamonds. It’s the second-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa. The country has 9 billion barrels of proven oil and 11 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. It produces about 1.16 million barrels of oil daily, 75% from offshore fields. Angola is also the fourth-largest diamond producer in…
Algeria, rich in natural resources, is Africa’s top natural gas producer and the third-largest oil producer. The country has 159 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves, mostly in the Hassi R’Mel field, discovered in 1956. It also holds 3.9 billion barrels of oil reserves in Hassi Messaoud. Algeria ranks third globally in…
Ethiopia, in the Horn of Africa, has a variety of landscapes, like plateaus, mountains, and rivers such as the Blue Nile. It also has valuable natural resources, including gold, platinum, tantalum, potash, and copper. The Ogaden Basin has one of Africa’s largest natural gas reserves, with around seven trillion cubic feet still untapped. The country…
Eswatini is a landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa, rich in natural resources that contribute significantly to its economy. The country sits on the Kaapvaal Craton, one of the oldest and most intact continental crusts in the world, dating back 3.6 billion years. This geological base contains valuable minerals like diamonds, coal, gold, kaolin, silica sand,…
Eritrea, the country with the second highest number of archaeological and historical discoveries in Africa, after Egypt, with over 80,000 sites, has abundant natural resources like gold, copper, potash, zinc, salt, and possibly oil and gas. Most of its mineral wealth is in the Arabian-Nubian Shield, covering 70% of the country. Major projects such as…
Equatorial Guinea, the third-largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa, is rich in natural resources that have driven its economic growth. It has around 1.3 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, mainly offshore near the Bioko Island, Zafiro, and Alba fields. The country also has 62% forest cover, with timber production concentrated in Río…
Egypt has various natural resources that are essential to its economy. Its petroleum reserves are notable, though much has been used up. In 2005, proven oil reserves stood at 3.7 billion barrels. Natural gas is a key resource, with reserves reaching 2,209 billion cubic meters in 2023. The Zohr field, discovered in 2015, is significant…
Niger is the largest country in West Africa, covering 1.267 million square kilometers. But 80% of it is desert. Despite the country’s poverty, its natural resources play a major part in the economy. The country is a top 10 uranium producer, with key reserves in the Aïr Massif region. Major sites include Arlit, Imouraren, and…
Mauritania, in northwest Africa, has rich natural resources that drive its economy. As of 2023, it is a major iron ore exporter, with Zouérat as a key production site. In 2023, iron ore exports recorded over $2.5 billion, nearly 40% of total export revenue. Gold mining is also thriving. The Tasiast mine produced over 450,000…
Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources, with major rutile, bauxite, iron ore, gold, diamonds, limonite, platinum, and zircon reserves. Mining is essential to the economy, contributing around 7% of the GDP and 80% of exports. However, it employs only 2.84% of the workforce due to its capital-intensive nature. Most large-scale mining licenses belong to…
