Plenty of optimism in West Africa
Nigeria remains West Africa's largest producer by far, but if you want an exciting exploration prospect then Senegal and Mauritania are the places to be
Nigeria continues to dominate West African oil production, but plays second fiddle to other parts of the region in terms of exploration potential. The government in Abuja has made tangible efforts to reform the once notoriously corrupt administration of the industry and introduce a new framework to encourage investors to return to a sector that remains heavily reliant on mature fields. Total's FPSO in the Egina field is the only sizeable new project scheduled to start producing in the next year—though it is a big one, potentially adding up to 200,000 barrels a day to Nigerian output. Exploration remains limited, as oil companies wait to see how effective industry reforms prove to be. A rise
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
