By Anna Marie Valentine
The Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines has reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to building a transparent, stable, and investor-friendly energy sector as the country seeks to attract increased investment and exploration opportunities within the petroleum industry.
The commitment was highlighted in a statement delivered by the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry, Abdoulie Jallow, on behalf of the Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Nani Juwara, at the Africa Energies Summit 2026 held in London.
Addressing ministers, investors, industry leaders and development partners at the summit, PS Jallow noted that the global energy landscape is undergoing significant transformation, with hydrocarbons expected to continue playing a vital role in energy security, industrial growth, and economic stability, particularly in emerging and developing economies.
He further described Africa as standing at a strategic crossroads, endowed with vast untapped natural resources while still requiring substantial investment, technology transfer, and infrastructure development to unlock its full potential.
For The Gambia, the Permanent Secretary said, the current period presents both an opportunity and a responsibility. Adding that The Gambia remains one of the frontier hydrocarbon destinations in West Africa, with promising offshore acreage located within the MSGBC Basin, widely regarded as one of Africa’s most active petroleum basins in recent years.
He noted that major discoveries in neighbouring countries have strengthened geological confidence across the basin, including within Gambian waters. Existing seismic data and previous exploration activities, he added, continue to indicate encouraging offshore hydrocarbon potential.
“As confidence grows, The Gambia is positioning itself for a new phase of investment and exploration,” he stated.
The Permanent Secretary also disclosed that the government is currently advancing discussions with a reputable international energy company regarding opportunities across the country’s offshore acreage, with further updates expected upon the conclusion of negotiations.
The growing international engagement reflects increasing confidence in The Gambia’s hydrocarbon potential, the credibility of its regulatory framework, and the government’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships within the upstream petroleum sector.
PS Jallow further outlined the government’s commitment to maintaining an open and transparent licensing regime, promoting data accessibility and investor engagement, ensuring regulatory clarity and contractual stability, encouraging environmentally responsible exploration and development, and building partnerships that create value for both investors and Gambians.
Beyond upstream exploration, he highlighted investment opportunities across the broader petroleum value chain, including petroleum storage infrastructure, bunkering services, LPG infrastructure and distribution, downstream logistics and transportation, as well as regional re-export and supply operations into the wider Sahelian market.
He noted that The Gambia’s strategic location along the Atlantic coast of West Africa offers unique logistical advantages for regional petroleum trade and distribution.
The government, he said, continues to pursue policies aimed at transforming the country into a viable energy and logistics gateway for the sub-region.
PS Jallow further emphasised that the country’s vision is not only to discover hydrocarbons, but also to utilise petroleum resources as a catalyst for industrialisation, employment creation, skills development, infrastructure expansion, energy security, and economic resilience, while ensuring that future petroleum development aligns with environmental sustainability and climate resilience objectives.
He concluded by reaffirming that The Gambia remains open to partnership, ready for investment, and determined to build a modern, transparent, and competitive petroleum sector that delivers shared prosperity for its people and value for its partners.
