Italian energy major Eni and other international players have engaged in detailed geological studies across Sierra Leone’s offshore basin, underscoring rising confidence in the country’s hydrocarbon potential. Backed by enhanced 3D seismic reprocessing and basin-wide prospectivity studies, the PDSL is accelerating data-led de-risking efforts to unlock prospects such as Vega and attract fresh upstream capital.

A central focus for investors is the anticipated resumption of offshore drilling in 2026 – the country’s first campaign in nearly a decade. Following the conclusion of its fifth licensing round, which offered 56 offshore blocks, Sierra Leone is preparing to drill new wells targeting an estimated multi-billion-barrel resource base, supported by improved subsurface imaging and strengthened regulatory oversight.

Sierra Leone is also in the final stages of establishing its first state-owned national oil company, which will hold a mandatory 10% carried interest in all exploration licenses. The government is targeting an overall 25–30% participation in projects, balancing national value capture with competitive terms for international operators.

Downstream integration is also gathering pace, with the 105–126 MW Nant gas-to-power plant in Freetown, developed by Anergi Group and TCQ Power, expected to nearly double national generation capacity when it comes online in 2027. In parallel, PDSL is spearheading plans for Sierra Leone’s first refinery to reduce reliance on roughly 15,000 barrels per day of imported refined products.

“PDSL’s participation at AEW 2026 reflects Sierra Leone’s serious commitment to unlocking its offshore potential through transparency, strong fiscal terms and data-driven de-risking,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber, adding, “Their strategic vision aligns with Africa’s broader push for energy security, industrialization and investor partnership.”

With drilling set to resume, a national oil company nearing launch and integrated gas-to-power and refining projects advancing, Sierra Leone is entering a defining phase. At AEW 2026, PDSL is expected to present a clear message: the basin is open, the data is ready, and the opportunity is real.

Nigeria – Alumina Refinery & Lithium Processing

Nigeria struck a $1.3 billion deal with the Africa Finance Corporation in early March covering three components: construction of a one-million-ton-per-year alumina refinery, a national geoscience mapping program, and a joint investment vehicle to accelerate exploration and production across priority leases. Projected at 95% utilization over 20 years, the refinery is expected to add $1.2 billion to GDP annually and generate approximately $8 billion in foreign exchange earnings over its lifespan.

Separately, a $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State is at the commissioning stage, backed by ongoing mapping of lithium-bearing pegmatite belts across Kwara, Ekiti and Kaduna states. New mining licenses now require a local processing commitment covering at least 30% of output before export, a condition that directly shapes the investment structures available to foreign partners. Nigeria’s energy minister is among the confirmed delegations at IAE in Paris.

Zambia – Copperbelt Expansion & Cobalt Refinery

Copper output in Zambia is on course to clear one million tons in 2026, supported by First Quantum Minerals’ completed $1.25 billion S3 plant expansion at Kansanshi and Barrick Gold’s $2 billion program to double output at Lumwana by 2028. Several additional projects, including Sinomine’s Kitumba Mine and KoBold Metals’ Mingomba deposit, are also coming online this year, making Zambia one of the few places globally adding significant incremental copper supply in the near term.

Africa’s first cobalt sulfate refinery is targeting commissioning in Zambia in 2026, adding downstream processing capacity alongside the copper ramp-up. The Lobito Corridor, backed by a $553 million US Development Finance Corporation loan for Angola’s Benguela rail link, reduces export costs across the Copperbelt and improves project bankability for both mines and processing facilities seeking long-term offtake commitments.

Senegal – Falémé Integrated Iron Project

Senegal’s Falémé iron district in the Kédougou region holds over 600 million tons of probable reserves, including oxide ore at around 59% iron content and primary magnetite at roughly 45% Fe. The government launched the Falémé Integrated Iron Project as a phased program targeting 15 to 25 million tons per year at peak output, with national iron ore company MIFERSO conducting ongoing reserve verification.

The mineral export port at Bargny is operational and rail rehabilitation linking Kédougou to the coast is progressing under the Emerging Senegal Plan. The project is actively seeking a technical development partner. With port and rail infrastructure advancing independent of any single mining operator, Falémé carries lower logistics risk than comparable iron ore projects requiring greenfield corridor construction, which affects how financiers assess project bankability and timelines to first revenue.

Equatorial Guinea – Rio Muni Mineral Exploration

Equatorial Guinea’s Rio Muni mainland offers early-stage exposure to gold, bauxite, base metals, coltan and iron ore across largely underexplored onshore territory. The Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons has been opening the sector since its first public tender in 2019, with exploration contracts now in place and state geological mapping advancing in partnership with Rosgeo. Minister Antonio Oburu Ondo will address investors at IAE, with the minerals program expected to feature in bilateral meetings.

Uganda – Rare Earths & Minerals Sector Opening

Uganda holds rare earth deposits in ionic adsorption clay formations — a deposit type the IEA has flagged for low capital intensity relative to hard rock alternatives — alongside gold mineralization across greenstone belts in the West Nile, Karamoja and Mubende regions. The Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals, with both its CEO and governing council chairperson confirmed for Paris, will serve as the primary interface for investors seeking access to Uganda’s licensing framework and project pipeline, at the same time as the country’s Tilenga and Kingfisher oil developments move toward first oil.

Sierra Leone is increasingly positioning itself as a frontier oil and gas market with significant offshore potential, and part of the PDSL’s mandate is to catalyze investment interest in its offshore acreage through direct engagement with global capital. Recent data suggest the country holds estimated recoverable resources in the tens of billions of barrels, backed by discoveries and extensive multi‑client seismic datasets that prospective investors are evaluating. The PDSL is actively promoting licensing opportunities and drilling plans, emphasizing fiscal terms and exploration readiness to attract strategic partners.

A cornerstone of this strategy is the anticipated launch of the country’s sixth licensing round. Offering a rare early-entry opportunity into a largely untapped deepwater terrain with considerable upside, the upcoming bid round is backed by fresh 3D datasets which de-risk exploration and support new drilling campaigns. Just this month, GeoPartners announced that the final Pre-Stack Time Migration data for its recently acquired 3D multi-client seismic survey in the country was complete and is now available for licensing. The dataset provides a 3D window into the hydrocarbon potential of the underexplored northern Sierra Leone region.

Sierra Leone’s licensing drive comes as major operators advance exploration activities. In 2025, Eni signed a Reconnaissance Permit Agreement with the PDSL, securing rights to conduct reconnaissance and technical evaluation activities across offshore blocks G113, G129, G130, G131 and G132. The acreage covers 6,790 square kilometers within Sierra Leone’s territorial waters. Nigeria’s F.A. Oil Limited is pursuing drilling following its award of six offshore blocks through the country’s fifth licensing round in 2023. The company is currently seeking a farm-in partner to advance the project from exploration to production, offering a 40% stake in each of the G Blocks 53, 54, 55, 71, 72 and 73.

As these development unfold, the upcoming roundtable at IAE 2026 offers a unique opportunity for operators and policymakers to engage potential investors. The IAE 2026 Forum has become a strategic bridge between African upstream opportunities and global investors, with sessions like the PDSL roundtable designed to foster deeper dialogue and provide clarity on project pipelines and investment prerequisites. Discussions are expected to cover mechanisms for de‑risking exploration activity, optimizing fiscal and contractual frameworks and identifying synergies between hydrocarbon investment and renewable energy commitments.

For investors seeking differentiated exposure to African energy markets, the Sierra Leone roundtable represents both a focused exploration of frontier oil potential and a broader conversation about regional infrastructure, partnerships and the evolving demands of energy capital in the years ahead.

IAE 2026 (www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com) is an exclusive forum designed to connect African energy markets with global investors, serving as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to African Energy Week. Scheduled for April 22–23, 2026, in Paris, the event will provide delegates with two days of in-depth engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or register as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com