Gambia, Italy’s Eni Sign Landmark Petroleum Exploration Agreement For Block A1

The Gambia has signed a landmark Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Licence Agreement (PEPLA) with Eni Gambia Ltd, a subsidiary of Italian energy giant Eni S.p.A.

The agreement, signed on Friday, 5th June 2026, grants Eni Gambia Ltd exploration rights over Offshore Block A1 — a 1,300-square-kilometre deepwater area along the Atlantic Margin off the coast of The Gambia, with water depths reaching up to 3,300 metres.

The block is located in a region with proven hydrocarbon discoveries and comparable geological settings.

Under the terms of the PEPLA, the Gambian state will hold a 10% equity interest in Block A1, carried through the exploration phase and represented by the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation.

The agreement follows a rigorous multi-year engagement process coordinated by the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia, encompassing national data room visits, pre-qualification under a formal Request for Information process, and extensive technical and commercial negotiations.

The agreement establishes a legal and commercial framework for the exploration and potential development of hydrocarbon resources within Block A1.

Commenting on the agreement, Minister for Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Hon. Nani Juwara, 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. The government under the leadership of His Excellency Adama Barrow is committed to ensuring that every step of this exploration journey is conducted with environmental responsibility and with the long-term interests of the Gambian people at its centre. 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.”

On her part, the Director General of the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia, Engr. Cany Jobe, 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, pre-qualification processes and technical negotiations, the Petroleum Commission has ensured a credible and competitive framework.
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 they commence exploration, while maintaining robust regulatory oversight at every stage.”