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
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
