SIERRA LEONE GEARS UP TO UNLOCK OFFSHORE OIL BOOM AT AEW 2025

With the groundwork laid, Sierra Leone is targeting its first offshore well drilling in nearly a decade by 2026.

Sierra leone Africa African energy Offshore zone Deepwater basin.

Sierra Leone is preparing to make a bold statement at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025, positioning itself as one of West Africa’s most promising offshore oil plays.

Foday Mansaray, Director General of the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL), will take the global stage from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town to spotlight the country’s rapidly expanding upstream potential.

Representing a nation that has been quietly cultivating deepwater prospects, Mansaray aims to capture investor attention with fresh seismic data, lucrative exploration zones, and an ambitious national strategy to kickstart oil production.

Backed by four existing offshore discoveries and newly confirmed hydrocarbon reserves, Sierra Leone is poised to ignite its energy sector. The PDSL has launched a sweeping campaign to attract global upstream operators, beginning with a major 3D seismic acquisition set for June 2025.

Covering the northwestern offshore zone, this two-month initiative aims to provide a clearer window into Sierra Leone’s untapped deepwater basins data that will be instrumental in shaping upcoming drilling activities and investment decisions.

Simultaneously, the PDSL has partnered with energy intelligence giant TGS on an advanced reprocessing effort in the southern basin. Leveraging cutting-edge imaging techniques, the initiative focuses on the promising Vega prospect and will generate a comprehensive 7,500 km² 3D seismic dataset along with 16,000-line kilometers of pre-stack depth migrated 2D data.

This geotechnical treasure trove is slated for completion before AEW 2025, providing potential investors with an unprecedented look beneath Sierra Leone’s offshore shelf.

The government’s aggressive push to de-risk offshore acreage comes on the heels of the country’s fifth licensing round, which wrapped in September 2023 with 53 blocks on offer. Nigerian firm F.A.

Oil emerged as a major player, securing six offshore blocks and reporting early indications of up to two billion barrels of hydrocarbons in place. The firm is now scouting for partners to accelerate development.

With the groundwork laid, Sierra Leone is targeting its first offshore well drilling in nearly a decade by 2026. The nation is also finalizing the creation of a new National Oil Company (NOC), which will automatically receive a 10% stake in all licenses, giving the government greater leverage and local participation in hydrocarbon ventures.

“Sierra Leone has the potential to become a major offshore producer in West Africa,” said Tomás Gerbasio, VP Commercial and Strategic Engagement at the African Energy Chamber. “By de-risking and reprocessing data, engaging with operators and investors, and pursuing new licensing rounds, the PDSL is providing the requisite support that companies need to invest and make discoveries in Sierra Leone.”

With AEW 2025 on the horizon, Sierra Leone is not just participating it’s positioning itself as the next big story in African energy.