Senegal Launches Tender for Blocks

Senegal's state oil company Petrosen earlier this week launched a tender of two new exploration blocks: Senegal Offshore South (SOS) and Senegal Offshore Deep (SOP).

The tender, the first such public competitive tender of offshore blocks by Senegal, was launched October 2, according to the country's official press agency APS.

Interested oil and gas companies are invited to express their interest by October 31 at the latest. No additional information was provided regarding the characteristics of the two blocks.

The authorities thus aim to ensure transparency in the licensing process. Indeed, the Senegalese state had long been accused of allocating blocks under opaque conditions.

Next year, ten new exploration blocks will be tendered as announced by Petrosen CEO Mamadou Faye, at the Africa Oil & Power conference held September 12-14 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Multiple gas discoveries (especially by Kosmos-BP offshore Mauritania/Senegal) and oil finds (including the Cairn-operated SNE field offshore Senegal which includes associated gas) have encouraged several majors including Shell, Exxon and Total along with Malaysian state Petronas to seek and obtain exploration exposure in the region.

(Photo credit: Cairn)