Sierra Leone has historically lagged its West African neighbours in offshore development
Sierra Leone launches new offshore initiative
The West African nation taps two-year-old UK firm in an attempt to spur interest in its undeveloped upstream
Sierra Leone has signed a reconnaissance permit agreement (RPA) with London-listed independent Wildcat Petroleum to identify offshore “blocks which have the potential to yield commercially viable oil finds”. The RPA covers 20 deepwater blocks covering 24km² and grants Wildcat the “non-exclusive right” to conduct studies for six months. The agreement does not give Wildcat any pre-emptive rights over acreage, but the company will negotiate for petroleum exploration and production licences, “if block(s) with the potential of containing commercially viable oil discoveries are identified”. The London-listed firm’s “top priority is to secure a stake in a producing asset”, but the Sierra Leone expl
Also in this section
24 December 2025
As activity in the US Gulf has stagnated at a lower level, the government is taking steps to encourage fresh exploration and bolster field development work
23 December 2025
The new government has brought stability and security to the country, with the door now open to international investment
23 December 2025
A third wave of LNG supply is coming, and with it a likely oversupply of the fuel by 2028
22 December 2025
Weakening climate resolve in the developed world and rapidly growing demand in developing countries means peak oil is still a long way away
