By AJERAP Correspondent
The Government of the Republic of The Gambia has signed a Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Licence Agreement, PEPLA, for Offshore Block A1 with Eni through its subsidiary, Eni Gambia Ltd, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to deepen offshore petroleum exploration and attract foreign investment into its upstream sector.
The agreement, signed on June 5, 2026, was executed by the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines on behalf of the Gambian government.
According to the government, the agreement followed a multi-year engagement process coordinated by the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia, including data room visits, pre-qualification exercises under a Request for Information process, and technical as well as commercial negotiations.
Offshore Block A1, which spans about 1,300 square kilometres, is located in the deepwater Atlantic Margin off the Gambian coast, with water depths reaching about 3,300 metres.
The government said the block lies within a region where hydrocarbon discoveries have already been recorded in adjacent geological settings, adding that previous geophysical and geological studies indicated strong exploration prospects.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Gambian State will retain a 10 per cent carried equity interest in the block during the exploration phase through the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation.
This Is a defining moment for The Gambia’s Energy Sector — Hon. Juwara
Speaking on the development, the Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Hon. Nani Juwara, described the agreement as a defining moment for the country’s energy sector.
He 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.”
Juwara added that the administration of President Adama Barrow remained committed to ensuring that exploration activities are conducted responsibly and in the long-term interest of the Gambian people.
“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,” he added.
We worked hard to present hydrocarbon assets to the market — Jobe
On her part, the Director General and Commissioner of Petroleum at the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia, Engr. Cany Jobe, said the agreement was the outcome of a deliberate and transparent licensing process.
According to her, the commission worked extensively to present the country’s hydrocarbon assets competitively to global investors through international promotion, technical evaluation and structured negotiations.
She stated that the signing further reinforced The Gambia’s emergence as a frontier exploration destination with promising geological potential and a clear regulatory framework.
She said: “The signing of the Block A1 PEPLA with Eni is the result of a deliberate, evidence-based and institution-led licensing process.
“Through the management of the national data room, international promotion of The Gambia’s petroleum potential, the pre-qualification process, and technical and commercial negotiations, the Petroleum Commission has worked to ensure that the country’s hydrocarbon assets are presented to the market in a credible and competitive manner.
“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 it commences its exploration programme, while maintaining robust regulatory oversight at every stage.”
The Gambia commends Committee
The Government of The Gambia commended members of the National Petroleum Negotiating Committee, whose collective expertise and dedication were instrumental in bringing the agreement to fruition, for their professionalism and commitment throughout the negotiation process.
The committee included representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines; the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia; the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation; the Geological Department; the Office of the President; the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs; the National Environment Agency; the Gambia Revenue Authority; the Gambia Maritime Authority; and the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency.
Eni, a Global Integrated Energy Company
However, Eni is a global integrated energy company headquartered in Rome, Italy, with operations across more than 60 countries.
The company is recognised for its expertise in deepwater exploration and development, with a strong operational footprint across Sub-Saharan Africa, including major offshore discoveries and developments in Mozambique, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Angola and Namibia.
Eni’s exploration strategy focuses on building a geographically diversified portfolio encompassing proven yet underexplored areas and high-potential frontier basins.
Eni Gambia Ltd is a branch of Eni S.p.A., incorporated for the purpose of undertaking petroleum exploration and development activities in The Gambia.
With its proven expertise in deepwater exploration and production, as well as established operational standards, Eni is well positioned to responsibly advance exploration activities in Block A1.
