Top 12 Proven Oil Reserves Holders in Africa, Jan 1, 2013 -- OGJ

by David Rachovich

Estimated Proved Oil Reserves

Rank	Country	Proved reserves (billion barrels), Jan 1, 2013	Proved reserves (billion  barrels), Jan 1, 2012	Share of total Africa, Jan 1, 2013
1.	Libya^	48.0	47.1	37.6%
2.	Nigeria^	37.2	37.2	29.2%
3.	Algeria^	12.2	12.2	9.6%
4.	Angola^	10.5	9.5	8.2%
5.	Sudan*	5.0	5.0	3.9%
6.	Egypt	4.4	4.4	3.4%
7.	Uganda	2.5	1.0	2.0%
8.	Gabon	2.0	2.0	1.6%
9.	Congo (Brazzaville)	1.6	1.6	1.3%
10.	Chad	1.5	1.5	1.2%
11.	Equatorial Guinea	1.1	1.1	0.9%
12.	Ghana	0.66	0.66	0.5%
Total Africa~		127.6	124.2	100.0
World total		1,637.9	1,520.1#
Total OPEC**		1,204.7	1,112.9

Notes: Where possible, OGJ uses data from its surveys and published official estimates. Most reserves estimates come from governments. Proved/proven oil reserves - generally taken to be those quantities that geological and engineering information indicates with reasonable certainty can be recovered in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions.

^OPEC member.

*Sudan and South Sudan (or officially the Republic of South Sudan) – D.R. Most of Sudan's oil is produced in the South, but the pipeline, refining and export infrastructure is in the North of the country. The majority of reserves are located in the oil-rich Muglad and Melut Basins. Oil produced in these basins and nearby fields is transported through two main pipelines that stretch from the landlocked South to Port Sudan. Sudan has three refineries located in Khartoum, Port Sudan, and El-Obeid; with total refinery capacity just under 122,000 barrels per cal day---please see:  EIA, Sudan and South Sudan analysis, March 19, 2012. – D.R.
 

~Including other countries.

**OPEC has a total of 12 member countries: Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

#Revised figure – D.R.

Source: "Worldwide Look at Reserves and Production [Table]," Oil & Gas Journal, Dec, 2012.