Senegal has made 104 oil and gas exploration blocks available to investors as it looks for new agreements to develop its hydrocarbon resources. Energy and Petroleum Minister El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf outlined the opportunity at African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town, linking fresh exploration investment with the country’s plans to expand gas-based industries and domestic oil refining.
The investment announcement follows a March 2026 reorganisation of Senegal’s exploration acreage into 113 blocks, of which four are already under contract and five have been reserved for technical studies by Italian energy company Eni. The remaining 104 are being marketed to potential partners, rather than having already attracted signed exploration contracts.
Key Overview
- 104 oil and gas blocks are available for investment discussions, out of 113 blocks mapped in March 2026.
- 65 onshore and 48 offshore blocks make up the total reorganised acreage.
- Four blocks are under existing contracts, while five offshore blocks are assigned to Eni for preliminary studies.
- Yakaar-Teranga gas: Senegal is seeking new partners after Kosmos Energy exited in April 2026.
- Proposed refinery: A second facility with capacity for four million tonnes of crude annually is estimated to cost 2billion–3 billion.
- Local participation: Senegal wants investors to include domestic companies, skills and workers in proposed developments.
Why Senegal Is Offering 104 Exploration Blocks
The government hopes to attract international and African companies capable of financing geological surveys, exploration drilling and, where commercially viable, production. An exploration block is a defined area in which a company may seek permission to investigate oil or gas resources; availability for investment does not mean hydrocarbons have been discovered or production has been approved.
Under the reorganised licensing inventory, Senegal has 65 onshore and 48 offshore blocks. Five offshore blocks covered by an agreement with Eni are set aside for evaluations of their oil and gas potential. Those studies should not be confused with completed production licences or confirmed commercial discoveries.
Minister Diouf urged prospective investors to examine geological information, consult technical officials and submit proposals supported by financing and the ability to complete projects.
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Yakaar-Teranga Gas Project Seeks New Partners
Senegal is separately seeking companies to help develop the offshore Yakaar-Teranga gas project with national oil company Petrosen. The search follows the April 2026 withdrawal agreement involving Kosmos Energy, which Senegalese authorities said was reached without compensation from the state.
Government plans envisage using gas from Yakaar-Teranga for electricity generation, fertiliser production and other industries, alongside potential exports. But the project still needs an agreed development structure, financing and reliable buyers before those intended benefits can be realised.
This approach reflects Senegal’s ambition to use natural gas for domestic industrial development rather than treating all future production solely as an export commodity.
Senegal Advances Plans for a $3 Billion Oil Refinery
Senegal is also pursuing a second refinery designed to process crude from its Sangomar oilfield. On September 23, 2026, state-owned refiner Société Africaine de Raffinage and Turkish company Yamata signed a memorandum of understanding for a proposed plant capable of processing four million tonnes of crude per year.
The refinery agreement places the estimated investment at $2 billion to $3 billion. Separate plans include modernising the existing refinery in Mbao. The memorandum establishes a framework for pursuing the project; it does not establish that financing is complete or that construction has begun.
If delivered, the new refinery could increase the share of Senegalese crude processed domestically and create demand for supporting storage, transport and petrochemical services. The scale of those benefits will depend on final investment decisions, financing and implementation.
Local Content and Regional Energy Cooperation
Senegal wants companies pursuing exploration and refining opportunities to work with local suppliers and develop Senegalese skills. Officials highlighted the role of the national local-content monitoring committee in encouraging participation from domestic businesses and workers.
The country is also seeking closer cooperation within the MSGBC energy grouping of Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. The minister indicated interest in expanding the alliance but did not identify prospective new members.
The regional investment priorities put exploration, gas-powered industry and refining at the centre of Senegal’s energy strategy. However, the 104-block offering is an invitation to negotiate—not evidence that all blocks will be explored, developed or produce commercial oil and gas.
Sources: African Energy Week / Agence de Presse Sénégalaise
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