Eni Enters Gambian Offshore for First Time With Deepwater A1 Block Licence

The Italian energy major has signed an exploration deal for a 1,300-square-kilometre tract in the MSGBC Basin, an area previously abandoned by BP and African Petroleum Corporation without commercial discoveries.

Italian energy group Eni has entered Gambia’s upstream oil and gas sector for the first time after securing a deepwater exploration licence for Block A1, a 1,300-square-kilometre offshore acreage in a region that has become one of Africa’s most closely watched energy frontiers.

The petroleum exploration, development and production licence agreement was signed on June 5 with Gambia’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Nani Juwara. The block lies in water depths ranging from 1,250 metres to 3,300 metres, within a section of the Atlantic Margin where neighbouring countries have made significant hydrocarbon discoveries in recent years.

Eni described the award as part of a broader strategy to build a geographically diversified exploration portfolio spanning proven, emerging and frontier basins. The company said the block sits within a geological setting where major discoveries have already been made, though it cautioned that the signing should not be interpreted as a discovery announcement.

The A1 block has a troubled exploration history. It was previously held by African Petroleum Corporation before the Gambian government revoked the licence in 2017, citing unmet contractual obligations. BP later acquired rights but exited in 2021 without drilling an exploration well, subsequently reaching a settlement with Banjul over outstanding commitments. Following BP’s departure, the government reopened the acreage for bidding and selected Eni as the preferred operator.

According to a report by Accra Street Journal, Gambia hopes Eni’s entry will help determine whether its offshore waters contain commercially viable oil and gas reserves after years of unsuccessful exploration attempts. Cany Jobe, director-general of the Gambia Petroleum Commission, described the signing as the beginning of a new phase in assessing the country’s offshore petroleum potential.

Eni’s arrival comes as the wider MSGBC Basin, spanning Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, attracts growing international attention. Senegal began oil production from the Sangomar field in June 2024, while the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project on the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania exported its first liquefied natural gas cargo in 2025, positioning both countries as emerging gas exporters.

The Italian company remains one of Africa’s largest foreign energy investors, with operations across North, West and Central Africa. Eni reported hydrocarbon production of about 1.73 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025 and has been responsible for significant discoveries including Egypt’s Zohr gas field and Ivory Coast’s Baleine field. The company also signed offshore agreements in Sierra Leone in 2025, highlighting its growing focus on underexplored Atlantic coast regions.

Commercial production from Block A1, if hydrocarbons are found at all, remains years away. Deepwater exploration is among the most technically challenging and expensive segments of the energy industry, with no guarantee that drilling will result in a commercial discovery. Nonetheless, Eni’s decision provides the strongest endorsement yet of Gambia’s offshore potential and offers Banjul a fresh opportunity to test whether the geological success seen in Senegal and Mauritania extends into its own waters.

Source: Accra Street Journal 

Last Updated on June 9, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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