Natural gas resources in Tanzania and Mozambique have emerged as a new source of gas supply. While they are poised for export to global gas markets, they can also provide a key source of energy to the rest of Eastern Africa (defined in this paper to include Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda), where millions of inhabitants are currently living without access to electricity and clean cooking. Natural gas could also potentially be a driver for industrialization and economic growth. But before delving into the potential gas demand and opportunities for gas utilization in the region, it is important to take a step back to analyze the current energy picture in Eastern Africa and look into the social and development plans in place in the region. Despite large natural resource potential across the region of Eastern Africa (except South Africa), low electricity access and energy access rates have hampered economic growth and increased dependency on traditional biomass. This scoping study investigates energy access issues in the residential, industrial and transport sectors.

Senior Fellow- Oil & Gas
Rami Shabaneh is a senior fellow in the Oil and Gas program, with a focus on global gas and hydrogen…
Rami Shabaneh is a senior fellow in the Oil and Gas program, with a focus on global gas and hydrogen markets. Rami has nearly 15 years of research and industry experience analyzing energy markets and energy policy. Before joining KAPSARC, Rami worked at Cenovus Energy as a market fundamentals analyst, providing analytic support on specific issues affecting North American gas, natural gas liquids and condensate markets. His work informed the company’s hedging strategies. Before working at Cenovus Energy, Rami spent three years as a research economist at the Canadian Energy Research Institute. He holds a B.Sc. in actuarial science and an M.Sc. in sustainable energy development from the University of Calgary.
Expertise
- Natural Gas and Hydrogen
Publications See all Rami Shabaneh’s publications

Macroeconomic and Sectoral Effects of Natural Gas Price: Policy Insights from a Macroeconometric Model
Natural gas resources in Tanzania and Mozambique have emerged as a new source of gas…
4th February 2025
European Gas Supply Diversification: What Is the Role of Middle Eastern and African Liquefied Natural Gas?
Natural gas resources in Tanzania and Mozambique have emerged as a new source of gas…
23rd May 2024