Sierra Leone Showcases Offshore Oil Potential at African Energy Week 2026

Sierra Leone made a strong impression at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town, where the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL) showcased offshore opportunities, courted international investors, and advanced the country's ambitions of joining Africa's oil-producing nations. The PDSL, led by Director General Foday B. L. Mansaray, used the premier energy gathering to strengthen Sierra Leone's credentials as an emerging destination for oil and gas investment. AEW 2026 brought together leading energy companies, investors, policymakers, and industry executives from across the world.

The PDSL exhibition stand was a focal point of Sierra Leone's participation, providing a platform to promote the country's offshore acreage, geological prospects, and investment framework. The country's message was straightforward: Sierra Leone has promising offshore prospects, geological data available for evaluation, and a government keen to work with credible exploration companies. The Directorate's presence also offered an opportunity to explain the country's petroleum regulations, available investment opportunities, and plans for developing the sector.

Mansaray participated in industry discussions, including the Upstream Exploration and Production Forum session, Africa's Next Exploration Cycle, alongside senior representatives from TotalEnergies, Chevron, Woodside Energy, and Apus Energy. The discussion focused on the investment conditions, technologies, and partnerships required to unlock new petroleum discoveries across Africa. For Sierra Leone, it was an important opportunity to place its offshore prospects before companies with the experience and resources to undertake major exploration programmes.

Mansaray also participated in a high-level roundtable on October 14, bringing together national oil companies, international operators, and independent exploration companies. Such engagements are particularly important for countries seeking to move from geological evaluation to active drilling. The PDSL Director General has advocated an investment approach that recognizes the financial risks associated with frontier exploration. He cautioned against imposing conditions that could discourage investment, emphasizing the need for commercially attractive terms.

Sierra Leone's petroleum prospects have attracted renewed interest from international companies, encouraged by developments along Africa's Atlantic Margin and improvements in offshore geological information. The country has recorded several offshore discoveries, including Venus-B1, Mercury-1, Jupiter-1, and Savannah-1X. Although none has yet resulted in commercial production, they have helped sustain interest in the country's petroleum potential.

International energy companies, including Shell and Eni, have entered reconnaissance arrangements to evaluate offshore opportunities. These arrangements represent an encouraging development for Sierra Leone, although further exploration and investment decisions will determine whether they lead to drilling. Other companies, including FA Oil Limited and Marginal Energy, have maintained exploration interests in the country. FA Oil's offshore portfolio, comprising six exploration blocks, has been promoted as a farm-out opportunity supported by approximately 3,000 square kilometres of newly acquired 3D seismic data.

The availability of improved geological information has become an important selling point for Sierra Leone. International energy data company TGS has supported the sector through its offshore seismic portfolio, helping provide prospective investors with valuable data. As Sierra Leone continues to promote its offshore opportunities, the country's petroleum sector is likely to attract growing attention from international investors and energy companies.

Key points

• Sierra Leone's offshore petroleum sector offers promising prospects, geological data, and a government keen to work with credible exploration companies.
• The country's petroleum regulations, available investment opportunities, and plans for developing the sector were showcased at AEW 2026.
• International energy companies, including Shell and Eni, have entered reconnaissance arrangements to evaluate offshore opportunities in Sierra Leone.