The Gambia signs offshore exploration licence with Eni for Block A1

By Hadram Hydara

The Gambian government has signed a Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Licence Agreement (PEPLA) with Eni Gambia Ltd for offshore Block A1, marking a major step in the country’s push to attract credible investment into its upstream petroleum sector.

The Petroleum Ministry said Block A1 covers about 1,300 sq km on the deepwater Atlantic margin off The Gambia, with water depths reaching up to 3,300m. Previous technical studies and regional discoveries in neighbouring countries make the area geologically prospective, but officials stress the agreement does not mean oil or gas has been found.

Under the PEPLA, the state will hold a 10% equity interest, carried through the exploration phase, and represented by the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation. The licence establishes the legal and commercial framework for structured, science‑led exploration in the MSGBC Basin.

Nani Juwara, Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, said: “The signing of this Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Licence Agreement with Eni is a proud and defining moment for The Gambia’s energy sector. It reflects the confidence that a world-class operator has placed in our country’s resource potential and in the credibility of our investment climate.

“The government, under the leadership of His Excellency Adama Barrow, is committed to ensuring that every step of this exploration journey is conducted with environmental responsibility and with the long-term interests of the Gambian people at its centre. We enter this chapter with measured optimism: not as a nation that has already found oil, but as a nation that has created the right conditions to responsibly find it.”

Engr. Cany Jobe, Director General of the Petroleum Commission, described the deal as the outcome of a “deliberate, evidence‑based, and institution‑led licensing process,” noting the award followed data‑room reviews, a Request for Information pre‑qualification, and detailed technical and commercial negotiations.

“This signing reinforces The Gambia’s position as an emerging frontier jurisdiction with strong geological potential and a clear regulatory framework. We look forward to working with Eni as they commence their exploration programme, while maintaining robust regulatory oversight at every stage,” she said.

The government commended the National Petroleum Negotiating Committee — which includes representatives from the Petroleum Commission, GNPC, the Geological Department, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Finance, the National Environment Agency, the Gambia Revenue Authority, the Maritime Authority and the investment agency — for its role in the negotiations.

Eni, a global integrated energy company headquartered in Rome, is active in more than 60 countries and has a long record of deepwater exploration in sub‑Saharan Africa. Eni Gambia Ltd is the company’s local branch set up to undertake exploration and development activities in The Gambia.

The ministry says the agreement is intended to unlock offshore investment while ensuring environmental responsibility, local content, and national participation. Regulatory oversight and further technical work will continue as Eni begins its exploration programme.