Following her receipt of the Natural Gas Industry Leadership Award by the American Gas Association, we invite Bridget Obehi Irekponor to share her expertise at the Africa Energy Leadership Summit 2024 currently taking place in Rwanda and how African governments can be well positioned to deal with these shocks.
My name is Yesufu , I am the Exhibition Director of Energy at Informa Markets. The summit, convened under the theme “Investments, integration, infrastructure, and governance to fuel the energy transition,” brought together senior decision-makers from across the continent to address Africa’s energy security challenges in a volatile global environment.
Following her receipt of the Natural Gas Industry Leadership Award by the American Gas Association, we invite Bridget Obehi Irekponor to share her expertise at the Africa Energy Leadership Summit 2024 currently taking place in Rwanda and how African governments can be well positioned to deal with these shocks.
My name is Yesufu , I am the Exhibition Director of Energy at Informa Markets. The summit, convened under the theme “Investments, integration, infrastructure, and governance to fuel the energy transition,” brought together senior decision-makers from across the continent to address Africa’s energy security challenges in a volatile global environment.
Yesufu: Bridget, congratulations on your recent Natural Gas Industry Leadership Award. Given today’s geopolitical climate, how do you define energy security for Africa?
Bridget Obehi Irekponor: Thank you. Energy security for Africa, in my view, is the ability of countries to guarantee reliable, affordable, and shock-resilient energy supply despite external disruptions. My research on U.S. fuel price volatility shows that geopolitical shocks, wars, sanctions, and pandemics translate rapidly into domestic price instability when supply chains are exposed. For Africa, where import dependence is high and fiscal buffers are thinner, these shocks can be more damaging unless mitigated through regional integration, diversified supply sources, and data-driven planning.
Yesufu: Your research focuses heavily on pricing volatility and geopolitical sensitivity. What lessons from the U.S. context are most transferable to Africa?
Bridget: One critical lesson is anticipation rather than reaction. In my work, scenario and sensitivity analyses demonstrated that markets respond sharply to geopolitical signals long before physical shortages occur. African energy planners can apply similar forecasting frameworks using regional data rather than relying solely on global benchmarks to anticipate price spikes, manage strategic reserves, and design tariff smoothing mechanisms that protect consumers and industries from sudden shocks.
Yesufu: How do global geopolitical tensions specifically threaten Africa’s energy transition goals?
Bridget: Rising geopolitical tensions often divert investment away from emerging markets and increase the cost of capital. My analysis shows that uncertainty amplifies price volatility, which discourages long-term infrastructure investment. For Africa, this means gas-to-power projects, LNG infrastructure, and cross-border pipelines can stall unless supported by strong governance frameworks and credible data that reassure investors. Energy security and energy transition must therefore be pursued together, not separately.
Yesufu: What role can natural gas realistically play in strengthening Africa’s energy security?
Bridget: Natural gas is a strategic transition fuel for Africa. My research highlights how gas markets, when supported by transparent pricing and predictive analytics, can stabilize energy systems while renewables scale up. For Africa, domestic gas utilization combined with regional pipeline integration can reduce exposure to volatile international markets, lower electricity generation costs, and support industrialization, all while maintaining a lower emissions profile compared to coal or diesel.
Yesufu: Finally, what would you say to African policymakers attending this summit?
Bridget: I would emphasize three priorities: invest in data infrastructure, strengthen regional energy integration, and embed geopolitical risk modeling into policy decisions. My work shows that when analytics guide energy strategy, governments can move from crisis management to resilience planning. In an era of global uncertainty, Africa’s energy security will depend not just on resources, but on how intelligently those resources are planned, priced, and protected.
Yesufu : Thank you Bridget for making time for us . We wish you well in your professional journey with many more wins to come
“The linkage Bridget made between U.S. fuel-price sensitivity analysis and Africa’s gas-to-power ambitions was both timely and practical. Her insights reinforce the idea that Africa’s natural gas assets can only deliver energy security if paired with strong data governance and predictive planning.”
“ I like the insights she shared. This is a must-read for African policymakers. She carefully translates complex machine-learning insights into actionable energy-security strategies which demonstrates the kind of leadership Africa needs to navigate global geopolitical shocks while advancing regional energy integration.”
“I was particularly impressed by how Bridget framed natural gas as a transition stabilizer rather than a competitor to renewables. In a geopolitically fragmented world, this approach provides a balanced pathway for Africa to pursue decarbonization without sacrificing reliability or affordability.”
“Congratulations . Bridget. Your discussion on tariff smoothing and regional integration resonates strongly with West Africa’s power pool challenges. Her research-backed perspective shows how analytics can protect consumers while still supporting investor confidence.”
“Congrats Bridget . I have seen how geopolitical risk modeling can be localized for African energy markets. Her emphasis on anticipatory analytics rather than reactive policy is exactly what gas-dependent economies like Nigeria need to stabilize pricing and attract long-term infrastructure investment.”