It is essential to intensify research on the strike-slip tectonic system in West and Central Africa to better understand regional tectonic evolution and achieve future breakthroughs in oil and gas exploration.Based on...It is essential to intensify research on the strike-slip tectonic system in West and Central Africa to better understand regional tectonic evolution and achieve future breakthroughs in oil and gas exploration.Based on the structural interpretation of extensive seismic data and stratigraphic paleontological analysis of more than 50 wells, this study investigated the tectonic history, sedimentary filling, and evolution of the rift basins in the West and Central Africa, and identified a novel type of intraplate strike-slip tectonic system. It exhibits the following characteristics:(i) the strike-slip tectonic system in the West and Central Africa consists of the Central African Shear Zone(CASZ) and two rift branches, manifesting as an N-shape;(ii) most of basins and rifts are characterized by rapid subsidence at one end and substantial sedimentary thickness;(iii) two types of strike-slip basins are developed, namely the transform-normal extensional basin(TEB) along CASZ and the strike-slip-induced extensional basin(SEB) at each end of CASZ;(iv) two types of basins display their own temporal and spatial evolution history. TEBs underwent two rifting stages during the Early and Late Cretaceous, with a strong inversion at the end of the Late Cretaceous. SEBs experienced three rifting stages, i.e., the Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous, and Paleogene, with a weak inversion;and(v) this strike-slip tectonic system was formed under intraplate divergent field, indicating a new type of system. This discovery enhances understanding of the breakup of Gondwana and provides valuable guidance for future oil and gas exploration.展开更多
Based on the analysis of the fluid inclusion homogenization temperature and apatite fission track on the northern slope zone of the Bongor Basin in Chad,this paper studied the time and stages of hydrocarbon accumulati...Based on the analysis of the fluid inclusion homogenization temperature and apatite fission track on the northern slope zone of the Bongor Basin in Chad,this paper studied the time and stages of hydrocarbon accumulation in the study area.The results show that:(1)The brine inclusions of the samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous coexisting with the hydrocarbon generally present two sets of peak ranges of homogenization temperature,with the peak ranges of low temperature and high temperature being 75–105℃ and 115–135℃,respectively;(2)The samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations have experienced five tectonic evolution stages,i.e.,rapid subsidence in the Early Cretaceous,tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous,small subsidence in the Paleogene,uplift at the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene,and subsidence since the Miocene,in which the denudation thickness of the Late Cretaceous and after the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene are~1.8 km and~0.5 km,respectively.The cumulative denudation thickness of the two periods is about 2.3 km;(3)Using the brine inclusion homogenization temperature coexisting with the hydrocarbon as the capture temperature of the hydrocarbon,and combining with the apatite fission track thermal history modeling,the result shows that the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous on the northern slope of the Bongor Basin have the same hydrocarbon accumulation time and stages,both of which have undergone two stages of hydrocarbon charging at 80–95 Ma and 65–80 Ma.The first stage of charging corresponds to the initial migration of hydrocarbon at the end of the Early Cretaceous rapid sedimentation,while the second stage of charging is in the stage of intense tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous.展开更多
Last month,when the world's most populus country,India,reported its first case of the new,highly transmissible clade Ib mpox variant,the challenge of containing the virus was once again evident.Only a few weeks be...Last month,when the world's most populus country,India,reported its first case of the new,highly transmissible clade Ib mpox variant,the challenge of containing the virus was once again evident.Only a few weeks before that in August,the World Health Organization(WHO)and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention(Africa CDC)declared mpox a public health emergency in response to its spread in Africa.Since then,cases of clade Ib mpox have been reported in Sweden,Thailand,and Pakistan.Although mpox is not yet a global pandemic,the new variant may tip the scales in that direction if the world does not act quickly to mitigate its spread in Africa.展开更多
The significant role of tropical forest ecosystems in the global carbon budget has increased the need for accurate estimates of tropical forest biomass.The lack of large-scale biomass allometric equations hampers the ...The significant role of tropical forest ecosystems in the global carbon budget has increased the need for accurate estimates of tropical forest biomass.The lack of large-scale biomass allometric equations hampers the understanding of the spatial distribution of tree biomass and carbon stocks and their influencing factors in West Africa.This study aimed to develop allometric equations to estimate aboveground biomass of African oak(Afzelia africana Sm.)in Burkina Faso and to analyze factors affecting the variability of tree biomass and carbon storage.Sixty individual trees were destructively sampled in four protected areas along two climatic zones.In each climatic zone,log–log models were tested and fitted to each aboveground biomass component and to the total aboveground biomass.Carbon content in tree aboveground components was evaluated using the ash method.All validated equations showed good fit and performance with high explained variance.Allometric equations differed between the Sudano-sahelian zone and the Sudanian zone,except for leaf biomass equations.Both biomass allocation and carbon content varied significantly between tree components but not between climatic zones.Carbon content in tree components followed the patterns of biomass allocation with branches accounting for the highest proportion.In the two climatic zones,carbon contents were 50.18–52.62%for leaves,54.78–54.94%for stems and 54.96–55.99%for branches.Dry biomass ranged from 509.05 to 765.56 kg tree^-1 at site level and from 620.21 to 624.48 kg tree^-1 along climatic zones.Carbon content varied from 53.90%in the Sudano-sahelian zone to 54.39%in the Sudanian zone.This study indicated that climate does not influence aboveground biomass production and carbon sequestration of Afzelia africana along the Sudanosahelian and the Sudanian climatic zones of Burkina Faso.Future studies on climate–growth relationships should contribute to better understanding climate effects on biomass production and carbon storage.展开更多
Local communities in southern Africa derive many benefits from marula [Sclerocarya birrea(A.Rich.) Hochst.subsp.caffra(Sond.) Kokwaro].These include the contribution of this species towards health,nutrition,food s...Local communities in southern Africa derive many benefits from marula [Sclerocarya birrea(A.Rich.) Hochst.subsp.caffra(Sond.) Kokwaro].These include the contribution of this species towards health,nutrition,food security and conservation by sharing local skills and knowledge related to it.Marula fruits can be eaten fresh,squeezed to make juice,brewed in traditional beer or used to make jam and jelly.The kernels are also edible and can be pressed to extract oil for cooking and cosmetics,i.e.,for skin and hair application.The bark,roots,seeds and leaves are exploited for traditional medicinal purposes.Marula has acquired significant commercial value since its fruits and other products have entered local,regional and international trade in southern Africa.To diver-sify fruit production and satisfy the increasing demands for this resource,several domestication initiatives have been carried out at regional and international levels.The accumulated knowledge and skills relevant to the establishment and commercialization of marula therefore provide an effective guide in areas where marula remains undomesticated or underutilized.We discuss the great importance of marula in southern Africa to reveal its great potential to regions where it remains unexploited.展开更多
In South Africa, non-timber forest products, especially mopane worms (Imbrasia belina) have become an important source of food and cash income for rural people living in or near the mopane woodlands. However, the co...In South Africa, non-timber forest products, especially mopane worms (Imbrasia belina) have become an important source of food and cash income for rural people living in or near the mopane woodlands. However, the continued harvesting has implications for long term management of the mopane woodlands in the northern parts of South Africa. In order to keep a balance between mopane worm harvesting and biodiversity, an understand- ing of socio-economic factors influencing the harvest at household level is vital to reducing depletion and overex- ploitation of the mopane woodland resources. This study evaluated the socio-economic factors influencing mopane worm harvesting decisions in rural households in Limpopo Province, South Africa using a binary logistic regression model based on a household survey of 120 respondents. Age, gender, education, income from mopane worm sales, social capital (group affiliation), household size, lack of institution/law to regulate use, distance to the nearest har- vesting site, and regional locations were statistically significant factors influencing household mopane worm harvest decisions. Implications for policy are discussed.展开更多
Forest ecosystems help conserve the quality of water resources in aquatic habitats. The conservation of biological diversity in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems remains a communal concern. Aquatic ecosystems and res...Forest ecosystems help conserve the quality of water resources in aquatic habitats. The conservation of biological diversity in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems remains a communal concern. Aquatic ecosystems and resources are vulnerable but can be preserved and protected by forests. In sub-Saharan regions of Africa, water from ecosystems such as ponds still play important role in the livelihood of local populations. Water from temporary ponds is used by local populations for multiple needs; however, in this part of the world, the population is increasing, thus increasing human needs and activities and land use in the region. Land-use changes lead to deforestation, land degradation and the decline in freshwater, affecting human health and well-being. Forest degradation leads to the decline in ecosystem goods and services, particularly those related to watersheds. This study conducted in eastern Burkina Faso aimed to assess water quality of temporary ponds in protected forest areas (reserves) and surrounding villages. It was conducted in 61 temporary ponds where physical, chemical and biological variables were measured, such as water surface area, depth, transparency, macrophyte cover, pH, dissolved O<sub>2</sub>, conductivity, nutrient concentrations and algae biomass. The results showed that at p < 5%, water surface area (p = 0.02), depth (p = 0.00), nutrient content (p = 0.00), and algae biomass (p = 0.04) were significantly higher outside reserves than inside reserves. In contrast, macrophyte cover (mean cover percentages 53 vs. 44.5%) and water transparency (p = 0.02) were higher inside reserves. The variations in conductivity and pH were not significant. All trends showed the influences of human activities on water characteristics and the role forests and land cover had in preventing negative human impacts and disturbance of temporary ponds. Forests and land cover are important to water quality conservation and algae biomass regulation in temporary ponds. Protecting and managing forests is therefore an essential part of future strategies for limiting algal blooms and their negative consequences, maintaining water quality and providing clean water to citizens.展开更多
North African countries generally have strategic demands for energy transformation and sustainable development.Renewable energy development is important to achieve this goal.Considering three typical types of renewabl...North African countries generally have strategic demands for energy transformation and sustainable development.Renewable energy development is important to achieve this goal.Considering three typical types of renewable energies—wind,photovoltaic(PV),and concentrating solar power(CSP)—an optimal planning model is established to minimize construction costs and power curtailment losses.The levelized cost of electricity is used as an index for assessing economic feasibility.In this study,wind and PV,wind/PV/CSP,and transnational interconnection modes are designed for Morocco,Egypt,and Tunisia.The installed capacities of renewable energy power generation are planned through the time sequence production simulation method for each country.The results show that renewable energy combined with power generation,including the CSP mode,can improve reliability of the power supply and reduce the power curtailment rate.The transnational interconnection mode can help realize mutual benefits of renewable energy power,while the apportionment of electricity prices and trading mechanisms are very important and are related to economic feasibility;thus,this mode is important for the future development of renewable energy in North Africa.展开更多
North Africa, which is one of the main oil and gas producing regions in the world, is best known for its subsalt Paleozoic-Triassic reservoirs and Paleozoic source rocks. Hydrocarbon abundance varies greatly from one ...North Africa, which is one of the main oil and gas producing regions in the world, is best known for its subsalt Paleozoic-Triassic reservoirs and Paleozoic source rocks. Hydrocarbon abundance varies greatly from one structural domain to another areally and from one stratigraphic interval to another vertically. Analyses of the essential elements and geological processes of the Paleozoic petroleum system indicate that the distribution of the Lower Silurian shale source rocks, the development of a thick Mesozoic overburden, the presence of the Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic evaporite seal are the most important factors goveming the distribution of the Paleozoic-sourced hydrocarbons in North Africa. The Mesozoic sequence plays a critical role for hydrocarbons to accumulate by enabling the maturation of the Paleozoic source rocks during the Mesozoic-Paleogene times and preserving the accumulated hydrocarbons. Basins and surrounding uplifts, particularly the latter, with a thick Mesozoic sequence and a regional evaporite seal generally have abundant hydrocarbons. Basins where only a thin Mesozoic overburden was developed tend to have a very poor to moderate hydrocarbon prospectivity.展开更多
The economic analysis of solar energy development is the basis of promoting the solar energy planning in north Africa and realizing the clean energy power transmission among continents. In this paper, the cost develop...The economic analysis of solar energy development is the basis of promoting the solar energy planning in north Africa and realizing the clean energy power transmission among continents. In this paper, the cost development trend of photovoltaic(PV) power and concentrating solar power(CSP) generation is analyzed, and the levelized cost of energy(LCOE) of solar power generation is forecasted. Then, taking the development of Tunisian solar energy as an example in the context of transcontinental transmission, PV power with energy storage and PV-CSP power generation are given as two kinds of development plan respectively. The installed capacity configurations of the two schemes are given with production simulation method, and comprehensive LCOE are calculated. The studies show that based on the LCOE forecast value, the LCOE of PV-CSP combined power generation will decrease when the annual utilization hours of transmission channel is increased. It can be chosen as one of important mode of the North Africa solar energy development.展开更多
Faidherbia albida is an ideal agroforestry tree commonly intercropped with annual crops like millet and groundnuts in the dry and densely populated areas of Africa. With its peculiar reverse phenology, it makes growth...Faidherbia albida is an ideal agroforestry tree commonly intercropped with annual crops like millet and groundnuts in the dry and densely populated areas of Africa. With its peculiar reverse phenology, it makes growth demands at a different time from that of crops. In addition, it deposits great amount of organic fertilizer on food crops. Leaves entering soils are comparable to fertilization of almost 50 t·ha^-1year^-1 of manure in dense stands of 50 large trees per ha. These nutrients help maximize agricultural production and reduce the need for a fallow period on poorer soils. Research has shown that millet grown under F. albida yielded 2.5 and 3.4 fold increases in grain and protein, respectively. Animals eat pods which contain mean amounts of crude protein of 20.63% and carbohydrate of 40.1% in seeds. Moreover, the continued existence ofF. albida in agroforestry parklands as in Ethiopia and Mali signifies the success of traditional conservation measures. Modem scientists have also developed much interest in the role of agroforestry in maintaining long-term biological balance between agriculture and livestock production systems. To ensure food security, which still remains a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, and concurrently minimize environmental degradation, promotion of agroforestry that specifically involves indigenous trees is crucial. We discuss the prospective role ofF. albida in alleviating poverty while simultaneously protecting the environment from factors associated with, for example, deforestation and loss of biodiversity. The overall aim is to promote wide-scale adoption ofF. albida as a valuable tree crop in farming systems, particularly in those areas where it remains unexploited.展开更多
The mechanisms causing quality variations and key control factors of submarine-fan reservoirs in the gas field X of the Rovuma Basin,East Africa are analyzed based on core and well-log data in this paper.Depositional ...The mechanisms causing quality variations and key control factors of submarine-fan reservoirs in the gas field X of the Rovuma Basin,East Africa are analyzed based on core and well-log data in this paper.Depositional fabric,lithofacies difference and characteristics of genetic units are the fundamental reasons of reservoir quality variations.In the case of weak cementation,porosity and permeability of submarine-fan reservoirs are controlled by grain sorting and clay content,respectively.Reservoir quality variations for 5 main lithofacies are related to variable depositional fabrics and calcite cementation.Among them,massive medium-coarse sandstones with weak cementation have the highest porosity and permeability,and coarser or finer sandstones have poorer reservoir quality.The existence of bottom current can develop laminated sandstones,improving the pore structure and physical properties greatly.Lithofacies vary among different types,locations and stages of genetic units,and they control the distribution patterns of submarine-fan reservoir quality:the physical properties of channel shaft or lobe main body are better than those of the channel or lobe edge.The sandstone sorting and physical properties are gradually improved from near-source to far-source.When multi-stage sand bodies are superimposed,the sand-mud ratio in the later stage is higher than that in the earlier stage,making the physical properties get better in the later stage.展开更多
In Africa, rural people depend heavily, if not exclusively, on medicinal plants and indigenous healthcare knowledge to meet their medical needs. Over 80000 flowering plant species are used medicinally worldwide. Among...In Africa, rural people depend heavily, if not exclusively, on medicinal plants and indigenous healthcare knowledge to meet their medical needs. Over 80000 flowering plant species are used medicinally worldwide. Amongst them are the underutilized Ziziphus species in the Rhamnaceae family. In terms of abundance and economic value, Z. jujuba and Z. mauritiana are currently the most important, especially in China and India where they are cultivated and exploited for medicinal use and their edible fruits. We examined a related common species widely distributed in Africa, Z. mucronata, whose economic value has not, as yet, been explored. Local people in various African countries use its different parts to cure a large number of diseases, many of which are similar to those treated with Z. jujuba and Z. mauritiana. Several studies have shown that Z. mucronata has cyclopeptide alkaloids, i.e., mucronines F, G and H, with antibacterial properties. Conservation strategies to sustain and maximize the benefits of Z. mucronata to people are proposed.展开更多
A comparison of the management models of protected areas between China and the African south region allows reading and evaluating the similarities and differences in the use of management model as a management tool fo...A comparison of the management models of protected areas between China and the African south region allows reading and evaluating the similarities and differences in the use of management model as a management tool for protected areas and specifi- cally some positive and negative features of the management approaches in these two regions. Previous to this study it verified the designation of protected areas as increasing at a faster rate than ever before, comparatively much faster now in China than southern Africa regions. With the aim of evaluating similarities and differences in the use of management model as a management tool for pro- tected areas in China and southern Africa Region, both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Qualitative data were mainly from policy documents, scientific articles and magazine reports, whereas quantitative (secondary data) statistical data from Interna- tional Union for Conservation of Nature Resources (IUCN) and World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). In view of the data sources above, the study found that in China all the protected areas are state owned whilst in southern Africa regions there are some protected areas that are privately owned; also that the models or typology of governance applied are successful for the fact that they both combine co-management or collaborative management, community-conserved areas and private protected areas that are subject to greater success and can help design planning and management than those who use exclusively government management. To this, the study concluded that the use of management model is influenced by the type of governance a country applies to its reserved areas.展开更多
African teak(Milicia excelsa(Welw.)C.C.Berg)is an endangered multi-use species.Understanding the impact of climate change on the distribution of this species may improve the ability to anticipate or recognize its decl...African teak(Milicia excelsa(Welw.)C.C.Berg)is an endangered multi-use species.Understanding the impact of climate change on the distribution of this species may improve the ability to anticipate or recognize its decline or expansion and to take appropriate conservation measures if necessary.Ecological niche modeling was projected in geographical space to study the current and future distribution of M.excelsa in Bénin.MaxEnt was used to estimate the potential geographic distribution of the species under two Representative Concentration Pathways(RCP).Miroc 5 summaries and two RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios were used as predictor variables for projections of the geographic potential of this species.The performance of the model was assessed by the area under the curve(AUC),true skill statistics(TSS)and partial receiver operating characteristics(Partial ROC).From the results,M.excelsa was more a secondary species in the Guinean climatic zone and part of the Sudanian-Guinean and Sudanian climatic zone.The projections show a signifi cant decrease in suitable habitats for the species from the two RCP scenarios.Only a part of the Guinean climatic zone remained suitable and few protected areas will conserve in situ M.excelsa.For the sustainable conservation of M.excelsa,it is essential to strengthen the protection of sacred forests located in the Guinean climatic zone.展开更多
For this study of long-term spatial patterns and trends of active fires in southern hemispheric Africa and on Madagascar from 2001 to 2020,active fire data from the MODIS FIRMS global fire data products were analyzed....For this study of long-term spatial patterns and trends of active fires in southern hemispheric Africa and on Madagascar from 2001 to 2020,active fire data from the MODIS FIRMS global fire data products were analyzed.The annual center of fire concentration tended to migrate toward the preserved rainforests and nature conservation areas in the Congo Basin and the mountain forests on the northeastern coast of Madagascar.Fire frequency varied seasonally at both study areas.We used geo statistical analysis techniques,such as measures of dispersion and emerging hot spot analysis,to reveal long-term trends in spatial patterns of fire events.In southern hemispheric Africa,the observed active fires tended to drift northward toward the Zambia-DRC border in the Congo basin.This northward migration progressed toward humid rainforests,which were better suited to sustaining repeated fire events.On Madagascar,the observed active fires tended to migrate toward the east coast in protected mountain forests.The spatial patterns of long-term trends showed a concentration of fires in the tropical regions of southern hemispheric Africa.Moreover,smaller clusters of new hot spots were located over eastern South Africa,overlapping with undifferentiated woodlands.On Madagascar,both hot and cold spots were identified and were separated by the highland region in the center of the island.Most of the eastern island was characterized by cold spots that received less precipitation than did the rest of the island.The presence of increasing hots spots in the densely vegetated areas highlights the urgent need for fire prevention and management in this region.展开更多
In view of the disadvantage that the absolute difference of time-lapse seismic(the difference between monitoring data and base data) is not only related to the change of oil saturation, but also closely related to the...In view of the disadvantage that the absolute difference of time-lapse seismic(the difference between monitoring data and base data) is not only related to the change of oil saturation, but also closely related to the thickness of reservoir, a time-lapse seismic "relative difference method"(the ratio of monitoring data to base data) not affected by the thickness of reservoir but only related to the change of fluid saturation, is proposed through seismic forward modeling after fluid displacement simulation. Given the same change of fluid saturation, the absolute difference of time-lapse seismic conforms to the law of "tuning effect" and seismic reflection of "thin bed", and the remaining oil prediction method based on absolute difference of time-lapse seismic is only applicable to the reservoirs with uniform thickness smaller than the tuning thickness or with thickness greater than the tuning thickness. The relative difference of time-lapse seismic is not affected by reservoir thickness, but only related to the change of fluid saturation. It is applicable to all the deep-sea unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs which can exclude the effect of pressure, temperature, pore type and porosity on seismic. Therefore, the relation between the relative difference of time-lapse seismic and the change of fluid saturation, which is obtained from seismic forward modeling after Gassmann fluid displacement simulation, can be used to quantitatively predict the change of reservoir water saturation and then the distribution of the remaining oil. The application of this method in deep sea Zeta oil field in west Africa shows that it is reasonable and effective.展开更多
Combining the characteristics of the reverse distribution of solar resources and water resources in North Africa,West Africa and the Sahara,this paper proposes the West Africa-North Africa grid interconnection project...Combining the characteristics of the reverse distribution of solar resources and water resources in North Africa,West Africa and the Sahara,this paper proposes the West Africa-North Africa grid interconnection project to realize the optimal configuration of desert solar resources and surrounding water resources,and introduce the water resources of West Africa's Niger River and North Africa's desalinated seawater to improve the living environment and development conditions in the hinterland of the Sahara Desert;build photovoltaic bases along the route to send clean electricity to North Africa and West Africa.This paper studies the transmission channel path,electricity-water composite transmission technology and project scheme,and analyzes the economics of the project and the water supply and demand conditions of the Niger River.The research results show that it is feasible in hydrological characteristics to lead the Niger River water along the power transmission channel that crosses the Sahara Desert,and the new electricity-water composite transmission technology has obvious economic advantages.展开更多
Background:Among the most important aspects of risk and hazard studies relating to forest ecosystems are maximum forest density and density-dependent tree survival.Methods:Long-term observations about the maximum de...Background:Among the most important aspects of risk and hazard studies relating to forest ecosystems are maximum forest density and density-dependent tree survival.Methods:Long-term observations about the maximum density of unthinned Pinus patula and P.elliottii field plots based on the Correlated Curve Trend(CCT)spacing studies which were established almost 8 decades ago by O’Connor(Forest Research with Special Reference to Planting Distances and Thinning,1935)in South Africa.Three specific approaches were introduced for analysing maximum density and tree survival,namely the‘limiting line’,Nilson’s sparsity and tree survival with the Weibull function.Results:The main results are:a)Maximum densities differ greatly among the two species grown on the same site and within the same species grown on different sites;it is possible to relate these differences to site index in both species.b)The relationship between the quadratic mean diameter and the minimum average spacing of surviving trees(known as Nilson’s Sparsity)appears to be surprisingly similar in both species.c)An analysis of tree survival in response to different initial planting espacements shows that the Weibull survival function parameters can be estimated if the initial planting density is known.This result is presented for each of the eight large experiments used in this study.Conclusions:This study contributes to a better understanding of tree survival and maximum density which are the key factors required for estimating risk and uncertainty.The risk of tree mortality is not constant,but varies with tree species,planting density,tree age and growing site.For estimating that risk,therefore,continuous long-term observation on different sites and with varying planting densities,as provided by the unthinned CCT series,are essential.展开更多
Since the beginning of 2022,due to the combined effects of extreme weather,oil and gas geopolitical risks and other factors,the natural gas inventory in Europe has reached historic lows,so Europe is actively seeking t...Since the beginning of 2022,due to the combined effects of extreme weather,oil and gas geopolitical risks and other factors,the natural gas inventory in Europe has reached historic lows,so Europe is actively seeking to increase natural gas imports from around the world.Africa is relatively geographically close to Europe,enjoys rich natural gas resource endowment,and has made major discoveries in recent years,so it may have greater potential for increasing natural gas supply to Europe in the future.This article studies the potential and relevant risks of increase in African natural gas supply,and the authors believe that more than 15 million tons/year of new LNG production capacity will be increased by around 2025 as 4 projects in Africa were approved before 2022 including the Coral FLNG project under construction in Mozambique,which will have a positive effect on diversified natural gas supply to Europe.The LNG project under construction in Mozambique and the proposed projects such as LNG project in Tanzania have the potential to further increase natural gas exports to Europe,but like NMGP project and other pipeline natural gas export projects,these projects are subject to different risk factors and their development prospect is highly uncertain.In the medium and long term,Africa,along with countries and regions such as North America,the Middle East,and Australia,will jointly promote a large-scale increase in global natural gas supply between 2025 and 2030,and Europe will lead the transformational development of the global energy industry.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number 92255302)the Major Scientific and Technological Projects of China National Petroleum Corporation (No. 2023ZZ07)。
文摘It is essential to intensify research on the strike-slip tectonic system in West and Central Africa to better understand regional tectonic evolution and achieve future breakthroughs in oil and gas exploration.Based on the structural interpretation of extensive seismic data and stratigraphic paleontological analysis of more than 50 wells, this study investigated the tectonic history, sedimentary filling, and evolution of the rift basins in the West and Central Africa, and identified a novel type of intraplate strike-slip tectonic system. It exhibits the following characteristics:(i) the strike-slip tectonic system in the West and Central Africa consists of the Central African Shear Zone(CASZ) and two rift branches, manifesting as an N-shape;(ii) most of basins and rifts are characterized by rapid subsidence at one end and substantial sedimentary thickness;(iii) two types of strike-slip basins are developed, namely the transform-normal extensional basin(TEB) along CASZ and the strike-slip-induced extensional basin(SEB) at each end of CASZ;(iv) two types of basins display their own temporal and spatial evolution history. TEBs underwent two rifting stages during the Early and Late Cretaceous, with a strong inversion at the end of the Late Cretaceous. SEBs experienced three rifting stages, i.e., the Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous, and Paleogene, with a weak inversion;and(v) this strike-slip tectonic system was formed under intraplate divergent field, indicating a new type of system. This discovery enhances understanding of the breakup of Gondwana and provides valuable guidance for future oil and gas exploration.
基金Supported by the PetroChina Science and Technology Project(2023ZZ0703)National Natural Science Foundation of China(42072229,41102131).
文摘Based on the analysis of the fluid inclusion homogenization temperature and apatite fission track on the northern slope zone of the Bongor Basin in Chad,this paper studied the time and stages of hydrocarbon accumulation in the study area.The results show that:(1)The brine inclusions of the samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous coexisting with the hydrocarbon generally present two sets of peak ranges of homogenization temperature,with the peak ranges of low temperature and high temperature being 75–105℃ and 115–135℃,respectively;(2)The samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations have experienced five tectonic evolution stages,i.e.,rapid subsidence in the Early Cretaceous,tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous,small subsidence in the Paleogene,uplift at the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene,and subsidence since the Miocene,in which the denudation thickness of the Late Cretaceous and after the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene are~1.8 km and~0.5 km,respectively.The cumulative denudation thickness of the two periods is about 2.3 km;(3)Using the brine inclusion homogenization temperature coexisting with the hydrocarbon as the capture temperature of the hydrocarbon,and combining with the apatite fission track thermal history modeling,the result shows that the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous on the northern slope of the Bongor Basin have the same hydrocarbon accumulation time and stages,both of which have undergone two stages of hydrocarbon charging at 80–95 Ma and 65–80 Ma.The first stage of charging corresponds to the initial migration of hydrocarbon at the end of the Early Cretaceous rapid sedimentation,while the second stage of charging is in the stage of intense tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous.
文摘Last month,when the world's most populus country,India,reported its first case of the new,highly transmissible clade Ib mpox variant,the challenge of containing the virus was once again evident.Only a few weeks before that in August,the World Health Organization(WHO)and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention(Africa CDC)declared mpox a public health emergency in response to its spread in Africa.Since then,cases of clade Ib mpox have been reported in Sweden,Thailand,and Pakistan.Although mpox is not yet a global pandemic,the new variant may tip the scales in that direction if the world does not act quickly to mitigate its spread in Africa.
基金funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) program。
文摘The significant role of tropical forest ecosystems in the global carbon budget has increased the need for accurate estimates of tropical forest biomass.The lack of large-scale biomass allometric equations hampers the understanding of the spatial distribution of tree biomass and carbon stocks and their influencing factors in West Africa.This study aimed to develop allometric equations to estimate aboveground biomass of African oak(Afzelia africana Sm.)in Burkina Faso and to analyze factors affecting the variability of tree biomass and carbon storage.Sixty individual trees were destructively sampled in four protected areas along two climatic zones.In each climatic zone,log–log models were tested and fitted to each aboveground biomass component and to the total aboveground biomass.Carbon content in tree aboveground components was evaluated using the ash method.All validated equations showed good fit and performance with high explained variance.Allometric equations differed between the Sudano-sahelian zone and the Sudanian zone,except for leaf biomass equations.Both biomass allocation and carbon content varied significantly between tree components but not between climatic zones.Carbon content in tree components followed the patterns of biomass allocation with branches accounting for the highest proportion.In the two climatic zones,carbon contents were 50.18–52.62%for leaves,54.78–54.94%for stems and 54.96–55.99%for branches.Dry biomass ranged from 509.05 to 765.56 kg tree^-1 at site level and from 620.21 to 624.48 kg tree^-1 along climatic zones.Carbon content varied from 53.90%in the Sudano-sahelian zone to 54.39%in the Sudanian zone.This study indicated that climate does not influence aboveground biomass production and carbon sequestration of Afzelia africana along the Sudanosahelian and the Sudanian climatic zones of Burkina Faso.Future studies on climate–growth relationships should contribute to better understanding climate effects on biomass production and carbon storage.
基金supported by the "948" Project of State Forestry Administration of China (Grant No. 2011-4-43) the National Science and Technology Major Project of China (Grant No. 2009ZX09308-002)
文摘Local communities in southern Africa derive many benefits from marula [Sclerocarya birrea(A.Rich.) Hochst.subsp.caffra(Sond.) Kokwaro].These include the contribution of this species towards health,nutrition,food security and conservation by sharing local skills and knowledge related to it.Marula fruits can be eaten fresh,squeezed to make juice,brewed in traditional beer or used to make jam and jelly.The kernels are also edible and can be pressed to extract oil for cooking and cosmetics,i.e.,for skin and hair application.The bark,roots,seeds and leaves are exploited for traditional medicinal purposes.Marula has acquired significant commercial value since its fruits and other products have entered local,regional and international trade in southern Africa.To diver-sify fruit production and satisfy the increasing demands for this resource,several domestication initiatives have been carried out at regional and international levels.The accumulated knowledge and skills relevant to the establishment and commercialization of marula therefore provide an effective guide in areas where marula remains undomesticated or underutilized.We discuss the great importance of marula in southern Africa to reveal its great potential to regions where it remains unexploited.
基金supported by The College of Agriculture,Engineering and Science,University of Kwa Zulu-Natal through its postgraduate student bursary(JP 5956-48901)
文摘In South Africa, non-timber forest products, especially mopane worms (Imbrasia belina) have become an important source of food and cash income for rural people living in or near the mopane woodlands. However, the continued harvesting has implications for long term management of the mopane woodlands in the northern parts of South Africa. In order to keep a balance between mopane worm harvesting and biodiversity, an understand- ing of socio-economic factors influencing the harvest at household level is vital to reducing depletion and overex- ploitation of the mopane woodland resources. This study evaluated the socio-economic factors influencing mopane worm harvesting decisions in rural households in Limpopo Province, South Africa using a binary logistic regression model based on a household survey of 120 respondents. Age, gender, education, income from mopane worm sales, social capital (group affiliation), household size, lack of institution/law to regulate use, distance to the nearest har- vesting site, and regional locations were statistically significant factors influencing household mopane worm harvest decisions. Implications for policy are discussed.
基金BIOLOG Program of the German Ministry of Education and Science(BMB+F BIOTA Ⅲ)
文摘Forest ecosystems help conserve the quality of water resources in aquatic habitats. The conservation of biological diversity in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems remains a communal concern. Aquatic ecosystems and resources are vulnerable but can be preserved and protected by forests. In sub-Saharan regions of Africa, water from ecosystems such as ponds still play important role in the livelihood of local populations. Water from temporary ponds is used by local populations for multiple needs; however, in this part of the world, the population is increasing, thus increasing human needs and activities and land use in the region. Land-use changes lead to deforestation, land degradation and the decline in freshwater, affecting human health and well-being. Forest degradation leads to the decline in ecosystem goods and services, particularly those related to watersheds. This study conducted in eastern Burkina Faso aimed to assess water quality of temporary ponds in protected forest areas (reserves) and surrounding villages. It was conducted in 61 temporary ponds where physical, chemical and biological variables were measured, such as water surface area, depth, transparency, macrophyte cover, pH, dissolved O<sub>2</sub>, conductivity, nutrient concentrations and algae biomass. The results showed that at p < 5%, water surface area (p = 0.02), depth (p = 0.00), nutrient content (p = 0.00), and algae biomass (p = 0.04) were significantly higher outside reserves than inside reserves. In contrast, macrophyte cover (mean cover percentages 53 vs. 44.5%) and water transparency (p = 0.02) were higher inside reserves. The variations in conductivity and pH were not significant. All trends showed the influences of human activities on water characteristics and the role forests and land cover had in preventing negative human impacts and disturbance of temporary ponds. Forests and land cover are important to water quality conservation and algae biomass regulation in temporary ponds. Protecting and managing forests is therefore an essential part of future strategies for limiting algal blooms and their negative consequences, maintaining water quality and providing clean water to citizens.
基金Supported by the Science and Technology Foundation of SGCC(Large-scale development and utilization mode of solar energy in North Africa under the condition of transcontinental grid interconnection:NY71-18-004)the Science and Technology Foundation of GEI(Research on Large-scale Solar Energy Development in West-Asia and North-Africa:NYN11201805034)
文摘North African countries generally have strategic demands for energy transformation and sustainable development.Renewable energy development is important to achieve this goal.Considering three typical types of renewable energies—wind,photovoltaic(PV),and concentrating solar power(CSP)—an optimal planning model is established to minimize construction costs and power curtailment losses.The levelized cost of electricity is used as an index for assessing economic feasibility.In this study,wind and PV,wind/PV/CSP,and transnational interconnection modes are designed for Morocco,Egypt,and Tunisia.The installed capacities of renewable energy power generation are planned through the time sequence production simulation method for each country.The results show that renewable energy combined with power generation,including the CSP mode,can improve reliability of the power supply and reduce the power curtailment rate.The transnational interconnection mode can help realize mutual benefits of renewable energy power,while the apportionment of electricity prices and trading mechanisms are very important and are related to economic feasibility;thus,this mode is important for the future development of renewable energy in North Africa.
文摘North Africa, which is one of the main oil and gas producing regions in the world, is best known for its subsalt Paleozoic-Triassic reservoirs and Paleozoic source rocks. Hydrocarbon abundance varies greatly from one structural domain to another areally and from one stratigraphic interval to another vertically. Analyses of the essential elements and geological processes of the Paleozoic petroleum system indicate that the distribution of the Lower Silurian shale source rocks, the development of a thick Mesozoic overburden, the presence of the Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic evaporite seal are the most important factors goveming the distribution of the Paleozoic-sourced hydrocarbons in North Africa. The Mesozoic sequence plays a critical role for hydrocarbons to accumulate by enabling the maturation of the Paleozoic source rocks during the Mesozoic-Paleogene times and preserving the accumulated hydrocarbons. Basins and surrounding uplifts, particularly the latter, with a thick Mesozoic sequence and a regional evaporite seal generally have abundant hydrocarbons. Basins where only a thin Mesozoic overburden was developed tend to have a very poor to moderate hydrocarbon prospectivity.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Plan(2016YFB0900100)State Grid Corporation Science and Technology Program(SGQHJY00GHJS1700078)Youth Fund of China Electrical Power Research Institute(NY84-17-003)
文摘The economic analysis of solar energy development is the basis of promoting the solar energy planning in north Africa and realizing the clean energy power transmission among continents. In this paper, the cost development trend of photovoltaic(PV) power and concentrating solar power(CSP) generation is analyzed, and the levelized cost of energy(LCOE) of solar power generation is forecasted. Then, taking the development of Tunisian solar energy as an example in the context of transcontinental transmission, PV power with energy storage and PV-CSP power generation are given as two kinds of development plan respectively. The installed capacity configurations of the two schemes are given with production simulation method, and comprehensive LCOE are calculated. The studies show that based on the LCOE forecast value, the LCOE of PV-CSP combined power generation will decrease when the annual utilization hours of transmission channel is increased. It can be chosen as one of important mode of the North Africa solar energy development.
文摘Faidherbia albida is an ideal agroforestry tree commonly intercropped with annual crops like millet and groundnuts in the dry and densely populated areas of Africa. With its peculiar reverse phenology, it makes growth demands at a different time from that of crops. In addition, it deposits great amount of organic fertilizer on food crops. Leaves entering soils are comparable to fertilization of almost 50 t·ha^-1year^-1 of manure in dense stands of 50 large trees per ha. These nutrients help maximize agricultural production and reduce the need for a fallow period on poorer soils. Research has shown that millet grown under F. albida yielded 2.5 and 3.4 fold increases in grain and protein, respectively. Animals eat pods which contain mean amounts of crude protein of 20.63% and carbohydrate of 40.1% in seeds. Moreover, the continued existence ofF. albida in agroforestry parklands as in Ethiopia and Mali signifies the success of traditional conservation measures. Modem scientists have also developed much interest in the role of agroforestry in maintaining long-term biological balance between agriculture and livestock production systems. To ensure food security, which still remains a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, and concurrently minimize environmental degradation, promotion of agroforestry that specifically involves indigenous trees is crucial. We discuss the prospective role ofF. albida in alleviating poverty while simultaneously protecting the environment from factors associated with, for example, deforestation and loss of biodiversity. The overall aim is to promote wide-scale adoption ofF. albida as a valuable tree crop in farming systems, particularly in those areas where it remains unexploited.
文摘The mechanisms causing quality variations and key control factors of submarine-fan reservoirs in the gas field X of the Rovuma Basin,East Africa are analyzed based on core and well-log data in this paper.Depositional fabric,lithofacies difference and characteristics of genetic units are the fundamental reasons of reservoir quality variations.In the case of weak cementation,porosity and permeability of submarine-fan reservoirs are controlled by grain sorting and clay content,respectively.Reservoir quality variations for 5 main lithofacies are related to variable depositional fabrics and calcite cementation.Among them,massive medium-coarse sandstones with weak cementation have the highest porosity and permeability,and coarser or finer sandstones have poorer reservoir quality.The existence of bottom current can develop laminated sandstones,improving the pore structure and physical properties greatly.Lithofacies vary among different types,locations and stages of genetic units,and they control the distribution patterns of submarine-fan reservoir quality:the physical properties of channel shaft or lobe main body are better than those of the channel or lobe edge.The sandstone sorting and physical properties are gradually improved from near-source to far-source.When multi-stage sand bodies are superimposed,the sand-mud ratio in the later stage is higher than that in the earlier stage,making the physical properties get better in the later stage.
文摘In Africa, rural people depend heavily, if not exclusively, on medicinal plants and indigenous healthcare knowledge to meet their medical needs. Over 80000 flowering plant species are used medicinally worldwide. Amongst them are the underutilized Ziziphus species in the Rhamnaceae family. In terms of abundance and economic value, Z. jujuba and Z. mauritiana are currently the most important, especially in China and India where they are cultivated and exploited for medicinal use and their edible fruits. We examined a related common species widely distributed in Africa, Z. mucronata, whose economic value has not, as yet, been explored. Local people in various African countries use its different parts to cure a large number of diseases, many of which are similar to those treated with Z. jujuba and Z. mauritiana. Several studies have shown that Z. mucronata has cyclopeptide alkaloids, i.e., mucronines F, G and H, with antibacterial properties. Conservation strategies to sustain and maximize the benefits of Z. mucronata to people are proposed.
文摘A comparison of the management models of protected areas between China and the African south region allows reading and evaluating the similarities and differences in the use of management model as a management tool for protected areas and specifi- cally some positive and negative features of the management approaches in these two regions. Previous to this study it verified the designation of protected areas as increasing at a faster rate than ever before, comparatively much faster now in China than southern Africa regions. With the aim of evaluating similarities and differences in the use of management model as a management tool for pro- tected areas in China and southern Africa Region, both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Qualitative data were mainly from policy documents, scientific articles and magazine reports, whereas quantitative (secondary data) statistical data from Interna- tional Union for Conservation of Nature Resources (IUCN) and World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). In view of the data sources above, the study found that in China all the protected areas are state owned whilst in southern Africa regions there are some protected areas that are privately owned; also that the models or typology of governance applied are successful for the fact that they both combine co-management or collaborative management, community-conserved areas and private protected areas that are subject to greater success and can help design planning and management than those who use exclusively government management. To this, the study concluded that the use of management model is influenced by the type of governance a country applies to its reserved areas.
文摘African teak(Milicia excelsa(Welw.)C.C.Berg)is an endangered multi-use species.Understanding the impact of climate change on the distribution of this species may improve the ability to anticipate or recognize its decline or expansion and to take appropriate conservation measures if necessary.Ecological niche modeling was projected in geographical space to study the current and future distribution of M.excelsa in Bénin.MaxEnt was used to estimate the potential geographic distribution of the species under two Representative Concentration Pathways(RCP).Miroc 5 summaries and two RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios were used as predictor variables for projections of the geographic potential of this species.The performance of the model was assessed by the area under the curve(AUC),true skill statistics(TSS)and partial receiver operating characteristics(Partial ROC).From the results,M.excelsa was more a secondary species in the Guinean climatic zone and part of the Sudanian-Guinean and Sudanian climatic zone.The projections show a signifi cant decrease in suitable habitats for the species from the two RCP scenarios.Only a part of the Guinean climatic zone remained suitable and few protected areas will conserve in situ M.excelsa.For the sustainable conservation of M.excelsa,it is essential to strengthen the protection of sacred forests located in the Guinean climatic zone.
文摘For this study of long-term spatial patterns and trends of active fires in southern hemispheric Africa and on Madagascar from 2001 to 2020,active fire data from the MODIS FIRMS global fire data products were analyzed.The annual center of fire concentration tended to migrate toward the preserved rainforests and nature conservation areas in the Congo Basin and the mountain forests on the northeastern coast of Madagascar.Fire frequency varied seasonally at both study areas.We used geo statistical analysis techniques,such as measures of dispersion and emerging hot spot analysis,to reveal long-term trends in spatial patterns of fire events.In southern hemispheric Africa,the observed active fires tended to drift northward toward the Zambia-DRC border in the Congo basin.This northward migration progressed toward humid rainforests,which were better suited to sustaining repeated fire events.On Madagascar,the observed active fires tended to migrate toward the east coast in protected mountain forests.The spatial patterns of long-term trends showed a concentration of fires in the tropical regions of southern hemispheric Africa.Moreover,smaller clusters of new hot spots were located over eastern South Africa,overlapping with undifferentiated woodlands.On Madagascar,both hot and cold spots were identified and were separated by the highland region in the center of the island.Most of the eastern island was characterized by cold spots that received less precipitation than did the rest of the island.The presence of increasing hots spots in the densely vegetated areas highlights the urgent need for fire prevention and management in this region.
基金Supported by the China National Science and Technology Major Project(2017ZX05005-001)
文摘In view of the disadvantage that the absolute difference of time-lapse seismic(the difference between monitoring data and base data) is not only related to the change of oil saturation, but also closely related to the thickness of reservoir, a time-lapse seismic "relative difference method"(the ratio of monitoring data to base data) not affected by the thickness of reservoir but only related to the change of fluid saturation, is proposed through seismic forward modeling after fluid displacement simulation. Given the same change of fluid saturation, the absolute difference of time-lapse seismic conforms to the law of "tuning effect" and seismic reflection of "thin bed", and the remaining oil prediction method based on absolute difference of time-lapse seismic is only applicable to the reservoirs with uniform thickness smaller than the tuning thickness or with thickness greater than the tuning thickness. The relative difference of time-lapse seismic is not affected by reservoir thickness, but only related to the change of fluid saturation. It is applicable to all the deep-sea unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs which can exclude the effect of pressure, temperature, pore type and porosity on seismic. Therefore, the relation between the relative difference of time-lapse seismic and the change of fluid saturation, which is obtained from seismic forward modeling after Gassmann fluid displacement simulation, can be used to quantitatively predict the change of reservoir water saturation and then the distribution of the remaining oil. The application of this method in deep sea Zeta oil field in west Africa shows that it is reasonable and effective.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.72131007)Agent-based modeling and analysis on evolution of the energy technology system for alternative fuel vehiclesScience and Technology Foundation of Global Energy Interconnection Group Co.,Ltd.(No.SGGEIG00JYJS2100027).
文摘Combining the characteristics of the reverse distribution of solar resources and water resources in North Africa,West Africa and the Sahara,this paper proposes the West Africa-North Africa grid interconnection project to realize the optimal configuration of desert solar resources and surrounding water resources,and introduce the water resources of West Africa's Niger River and North Africa's desalinated seawater to improve the living environment and development conditions in the hinterland of the Sahara Desert;build photovoltaic bases along the route to send clean electricity to North Africa and West Africa.This paper studies the transmission channel path,electricity-water composite transmission technology and project scheme,and analyzes the economics of the project and the water supply and demand conditions of the Niger River.The research results show that it is feasible in hydrological characteristics to lead the Niger River water along the power transmission channel that crosses the Sahara Desert,and the new electricity-water composite transmission technology has obvious economic advantages.
文摘Background:Among the most important aspects of risk and hazard studies relating to forest ecosystems are maximum forest density and density-dependent tree survival.Methods:Long-term observations about the maximum density of unthinned Pinus patula and P.elliottii field plots based on the Correlated Curve Trend(CCT)spacing studies which were established almost 8 decades ago by O’Connor(Forest Research with Special Reference to Planting Distances and Thinning,1935)in South Africa.Three specific approaches were introduced for analysing maximum density and tree survival,namely the‘limiting line’,Nilson’s sparsity and tree survival with the Weibull function.Results:The main results are:a)Maximum densities differ greatly among the two species grown on the same site and within the same species grown on different sites;it is possible to relate these differences to site index in both species.b)The relationship between the quadratic mean diameter and the minimum average spacing of surviving trees(known as Nilson’s Sparsity)appears to be surprisingly similar in both species.c)An analysis of tree survival in response to different initial planting espacements shows that the Weibull survival function parameters can be estimated if the initial planting density is known.This result is presented for each of the eight large experiments used in this study.Conclusions:This study contributes to a better understanding of tree survival and maximum density which are the key factors required for estimating risk and uncertainty.The risk of tree mortality is not constant,but varies with tree species,planting density,tree age and growing site.For estimating that risk,therefore,continuous long-term observation on different sites and with varying planting densities,as provided by the unthinned CCT series,are essential.
文摘Since the beginning of 2022,due to the combined effects of extreme weather,oil and gas geopolitical risks and other factors,the natural gas inventory in Europe has reached historic lows,so Europe is actively seeking to increase natural gas imports from around the world.Africa is relatively geographically close to Europe,enjoys rich natural gas resource endowment,and has made major discoveries in recent years,so it may have greater potential for increasing natural gas supply to Europe in the future.This article studies the potential and relevant risks of increase in African natural gas supply,and the authors believe that more than 15 million tons/year of new LNG production capacity will be increased by around 2025 as 4 projects in Africa were approved before 2022 including the Coral FLNG project under construction in Mozambique,which will have a positive effect on diversified natural gas supply to Europe.The LNG project under construction in Mozambique and the proposed projects such as LNG project in Tanzania have the potential to further increase natural gas exports to Europe,but like NMGP project and other pipeline natural gas export projects,these projects are subject to different risk factors and their development prospect is highly uncertain.In the medium and long term,Africa,along with countries and regions such as North America,the Middle East,and Australia,will jointly promote a large-scale increase in global natural gas supply between 2025 and 2030,and Europe will lead the transformational development of the global energy industry.