In recent years，massive oil and gas reserves have been discovered in Africa and the pace of hydrocarbon exploration and commercial production has been accelerated correspondingly. Emerging hydrocarbon countries are on the rise and will grow into important oil and gas producers in Africa. Prosperity of the hydrocarbon industries in these countries will have a range of significant impacts on local economic and social development. First，the governments’ attitudes towards resources are becoming more self-protective，trying to get more revenues than before. Second，as more and more foreign investors are seeking to get profits from the hydrocarbon industry，the African local markets are getting more competitive. Third，as the revenues from hydrocarbon industries might increase dramatically，it would offer wonderful opportunities for the governments to be engaged in future development. Meanwhile，the governments of the emerging hydrocarbon-rich countries should keep alert to avoid plunging into the abyss of “resource curse”.