The African continent is a home to some of the world’s largest oil producing countries. Many of these countries, mostly developing rely on crude oil as their major foreign exchange earner. Here is a list of the 10 highest oil producers in Africa.
10. South Africa – 160,000 Barrels Per Day
World Ranking: 41
South Africa is the10th largest oil producer in Africa and the 41st highest oil producing country in the world. It has a daily output of around 169,000 barrels. The large economy and the well-developed infrastructure of South Africa are the two main strengths of its oil industry, it has the second-largest crude oil refining capacity in Africa.
9. Gabon – 240,000 Barrels Per Day
World Ranking: 37
Gabon is the 9th largest oil producer in Africa and the 37th in the world with a daily production capacity of 240,000 barrels. Gabon’s economy is reliant on its oil production, Oil revenue accounts for 56% of total government revenue.
8. Congo – 259,000 Barrels Per Day
World Ranking: 36
The Republic of Congo is the 8th highest oil producing country in Africa and the 36th largest oil producing country in the World. Oil production accounts for about 85% of Republic of Congo’s export revenues and almost 80% of the government’s total revenue. Congo’s oil daily production is around 259,000 barrels, a figure expected to decline as a result of natural declines at mature fields.
7. Sudan & South Sudan – 262,000 Barrels Per Day
World Ranking: 35
Sudan and South Sudan are the 7th largest oil producing African Countries and the 35th largest oil producers in the world. Most of the oil production capacity is now in South Sudan after it gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but it has to use Sudan’s export pipelines and port which makes the two countries dependent. Unified Sudan was the second-largest non-OPEC oil producer in Africa before the split in 2011. The split has led to a decline in oil production for both countries, they are now ranked as the fourth-largest non-OPEC African oil producer.
6. Equatorial Guinea – 269,000 Barrels Per Day
World Ranking: 34
With a daily production rate of 269,000 barrels, Equatorial Guinea is ranked sixth among the highest oil producing countries in Africa and 34th in the world. Equatorial Guinea’s 1.1 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves is the eighth-largest in Sub-Saharan Africa.
5. Libya – 516,000 Barrels Per Day
World Ranking: 29
Libya oil reserves of 48 billion barrels is the largest in Africa and the 9th largest in the world. Libya produces 516,000 barrels of crude oil daily, which makes it the fifth biggest oil producer in Africa and the 29th largest oil producer in the world. Libya’s economy depends on the oil sector, which contributes over 95 per cent of export earnings.
4. Egypt – 667,000 Barrels Per Day
World Ranking: 27
Egypt daily oil production of 667,000 barrels is the fourth highest among the oil producing countries in Africa and it is the has the 27th highest oil output in the world. Egypt is the largest non-OPEC oil producer in Africa and it is a major transit route for oil shipped from the Persian Gulf to Europe and USA. Egypt has the largest oil refining capacity in Africa, it refines most of its crude and it has one of the most developed energy facilities in Africa.
3. Algeria – 1,721,000 Barrels Per Day
World Ranking: 17
Algeria is third largest oil producing African country and the 17th largest oil producer in the world. Algeria has an oil reserve of about 12 billion barrels and a daily production capacity of 1.7 million barrels. The oil and gas sector of Algeria is the mainstay of the economy, it accounts for about 35 per cent of Algeria’s GDP and two-thirds of its total exports.
2. Nigeria – 1, 722, 000
Nigeria lost its Africa’s top oil producer status to Angola, as the country’s crude oil production fell by 67,000 barrels per day last month.Nigeria recorded the biggest drop in output in the month among its peers in OPEC, followed by Venezuela, based on direct communication.The country has recently seen a rise in militant attacks in its main oil-producing region, the Niger Delta, denting oil production.
1. Angola – 1,782, 000 Barrels Per Day
Angola is the largest oil producing African country and the 16th largest oil producing nation in the world with a daily production of 1.782, 000 barrels. It is the 12th member of OPEC and is currently exporting nearly 90% of crude oil to China and the U.S.A. The economy of Angola is largely dependent on oil, Oil production accounts for 40% of Angola’s GDP, the country has an estimated 8 billion barrels of oil reserves.