Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Government of Sierra Leone has signed a landmark Reconnaissance Permit Agreement with global energy powerhouse Eni S.p.A., marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s petroleum journey.
The agreement, facilitated by the Petroleum Directorate, grants Eni access to five offshore blocks G-113, G-129, G-130, G-131, and G-132 spanning approximately 6,790 square kilometres of Sierra Leone’s territorial waters. These blocks form part of one of West Africa’s most underexplored basins, now poised for advanced geological and geophysical evaluation.
Under the approved Minimum Reconnaissance Work Programme, Eni will deploy cutting-edge technology to conduct detailed subsurface studies. This initiative aims to build a robust, data-driven understanding of Sierra Leone’s hydrocarbon potential, laying the groundwork for future exploration and sustainable development.
Eng. Foday B. L. Mansaray, Director General of the Petroleum Directorate, described the agreement as a “transformative achievement,” highlighting its significance as a global endorsement of Sierra Leone’s regulatory integrity and investment climate. He emphasized that the partnership goes beyond exploration, promising to enhance institutional capacity, improve data quality, and promote responsible resource management.
President Julius Maada Bio welcomed the deal as a strategic milestone aligned with his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive growth. “This partnership signals our readiness to harness natural resources responsibly driving economic diversification, job creation, and shared prosperity,” he affirmed.
Eni S.p.A., headquartered in Rome, Italy, brings decades of experience in offshore exploration and sustainable gas development across West Africa. Its entry into Sierra Leone’s energy landscape positions the country as an emerging frontier in regional petroleum investment.
The Petroleum Directorate, mandated to regulate and promote petroleum resources, will oversee all activities to ensure they align with national interests and uphold the highest standards of governance.
This agreement not only ignites hope for energy independence but also reinforces Sierra Leone’s trajectory toward long-term economic resilience and global relevance in the energy sector.
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