By Ajong Mbapndah L*
The Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL) has been steadily building a reputation as one of West Africa’s most promising frontier energy agencies. In 2025, the momentum has been unmistakable—from cutting-edge seismic campaigns to high-level investor engagement, all underpinned by a strengthened governance framework. The goal is clear: to move from potential to production, with the country’s offshore basin taking its place among the region’s most attractive exploration destinations.
Pan African Visions sat down for an interview with Foday Mansaray, Director of the PDSL to discuss their progress this year, the evolving licensing landscape, and what the latest studies reveal about Sierra Leone’s energy potential. The conversation paints a picture of a nation carefully laying the technical and strategic foundations for an oil and gas future beaming with bright prospects.
How have things gone this year at the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone?
The year 2025 has been a turning point for us—one defined by decisive technical advancements and a new level of international visibility. In August, we concluded a landmark offshore 3D seismic acquisition campaign in partnership with F.A. Oil Limited, GeoPartners, and BGP, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation. Covering roughly 3,000 square kilometres, this high-resolution survey delivers some of the most advanced geophysical imaging ever recorded in Sierra Leone’s petroleum history. It will be the foundation for future exploration drilling campaigns, potentially beginning as early as 2026.
Political support has also been critical. His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s decision to visit the BGP Prospector seismic vessel on August 10 sends a strong signal to the global industry. It’s a clear demonstration of national commitment to responsible hydrocarbon development—and a confidence boost for prospective investors.
We have also made significant strides in data enhancement. In partnership with TGS, we are reprocessing the Fusion 3D seismic dataset using state-of-the-art algorithms to produce sharper, more detailed subsurface imaging. This reprocessed data, expected by October 2025, will greatly improve our understanding of structural and stratigraphic plays, supporting more accurate prospect ranking. Together with the newly acquired 3D seismic data, Sierra Leone now possesses one of the most comprehensive modern datasets in the West African Transform Margin.
Earlier this year, we wrapped up an integrated basin analysis with PVE Consulting—a study that combined seismic, well logs, gravity, and geological modelling to deliver the most detailed hydrocarbon prospectivity assessment ever undertaken here. The results were striking: more than 80 hydrocarbon plays identified and an estimated 30 billion barrels of recoverable oil equivalent in potential resources. This not only reinforces Sierra Leone’s geological attractiveness but also provides a scientific roadmap for our next licensing round.
At the same time, we’ve been actively engaging the market. Through targeted investor briefings, participation in major forums like Africa Energy Week, and enhanced data packages, we’ve been laying the groundwork for a competitive offshore licensing round. Complementing all of this is a continued strengthening of our governance and regulatory systems. We are working closely with the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Attorney General to align our petroleum governance with global best practices—ensuring fiscal transparency, legal clarity, and streamlined processes that build investor confidence.
Could you shed light or provide updates on licensing or exploration rounds that you launched this year?
While no new offshore licensing round has been officially launched in 2025, the preparatory work is already in motion. We are deliberately building momentum before opening a formal round—targeting the right investors, refining fiscal terms, and ensuring that our value proposition is clear and compelling.
Our teams have been hosting data room sessions, conducting one-on-one meetings with international oil companies, and participating in roadshows to showcase our upgraded seismic datasets and new geological insights. The narrative we are putting forward is one of a frontier basin backed by world-class data, attractive terms, and a governance framework designed for transparency and efficiency.
The decision on timing will be market-driven, but we are currently evaluating a possible launch window for late 2025 or early 2026. The focus will likely be on deepwater blocks that our recent seismic work has confirmed to contain mature source rock systems and large, well-imaged structural traps.
Based on the work of the Directorate, what is the estimated energy potential that Sierra Leone has, and how close is the country to reaching a production phase?
Our basin is part of the West African Transform Margin—a region that has already delivered major discoveries for our neighbours. Integrated studies combining new seismic interpretation, basin modelling, and historical well data suggest that Sierra Leone’s offshore acreage could hold over 30 billion barrels of recoverable oil equivalent. The geological building blocks are all there: mature source rocks, well-developed reservoirs, and large structural and stratigraphic traps. Some of these prospects even show direct hydrocarbon indicators on seismic, which is always a positive sign for exploration.
In the past, wells like Anadarko’s Venus B-1 and Mercury proved the presence of hydrocarbons, but they were drilled with earlier-generation seismic data, which limited targeting accuracy. Today, with our new 3D seismic surveys and advanced reprocessing of legacy datasets, we have an entirely different level of resolution—putting us in a much stronger position to direct future drilling.
As for timelines, we are still in the exploration phase, but the pathway is becoming clearer. Over the next two years, we aim to complete prospect evaluations, secure farm-in partners, and launch a licensing round. Exploration drilling could then take place between 2026 and 2028. If commercial discoveries are made, development planning could begin soon after, with the earliest realistic window for first oil or gas falling between 2030 and 2032. The exact timing will depend on discovery success, infrastructure development, and fiscal agreements.
In short, we are not at production yet—but we are building every necessary foundation to get there. The work being done now is designed to ensure that when Sierra Leone does move into development, it will be on the strongest possible technical and commercial footing.
May we get your take on the African Energy Week as it marks its fifth anniversary?
As Africa Energy Week (AEW) marks its fifth anniversary, we at the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone join the rest of the continent in celebrating a platform that has rapidly become Africa’s premier energy gathering—a space where policy, capital, and continental ambition converge.
Over the past five years, AEW has evolved into more than just a conference. It is now a catalyst for deal-making, dialogue, and direction-setting across Africa’s energy value chain. From upstream oil and gas to power, renewables, and energy transition strategies, AEW has created a space where African nations speak not just to the world, but also to one another—with clarity, confidence, and a shared commitment to unlocking Africa’s energy wealth for African development.
For Sierra Leone, AEW has offered a strategic platform to engage global investors, promote our offshore potential, and learn from the experiences of our African peers. Our participation has contributed to stronger regional collaboration and heightened visibility for our basin, particularly as we position ourselves for a future licensing round and prepare for the transition toward production.
As AEW enters its fifth year, we commend the organisers for staying true to their mission of placing Africa at the centre of global energy conversations. At a time when the world must balance the realities of energy poverty, climate goals, and economic growth, AEW remains a timely reminder that Africa’s energy future must be defined on African terms.
We look forward to continued engagement, investment partnerships, and collaborative progress in the years ahead.
How helpful have previous editions of the African Energy Week, and African Energy Chamber events been in helping the Directorate to achieve its objectives?
AEW and AEC engagements have served not merely as events, but as strategic accelerators for the Directorate’s mission to attract investment, enhance sector governance, and move Sierra Leone steadily toward energy independence and responsible hydrocarbon development.
We consider continued participation in AEW not only valuable but essential to the realisation of our medium- and long-term objectives.
Over the past few years, the African Energy Week (AEW) and related platforms facilitated by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) have proven to be instrumental in supporting the strategic objectives of the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone.
AEW has consistently offered high-level access to international oil companies, national oil companies, independent explorers, financiers, and technical service providers. This environment has allowed the Directorate to:
- Market Sierra Leone’s offshore potential to a targeted audience.
- Hold bilateral meetings with prospective partners.
- Build relationships with key upstream players seeking entry into emerging basins.
Participation in AEW and AEC events has significantly enhanced Sierra Leone’s visibility within the African energy landscape. Through panel discussions, exhibition showcases, and strategic sessions, the Directorate has been able to:
- Share success stories and frontier opportunities.
- Signal policy shifts and reform progress.
- Position the country as a credible and stable destination for energy investment.
AEW has also been vital in promoting a pan-African approach to energy development.
Africa Energy Week (AEW) and the African Energy Chamber (AEC) have been, and will continue to be, trusted partners to Sierra Leone under my leadership. Their unwavering commitment to African energy development aligns with our national vision to unlock and responsibly harness our hydrocarbon potential. We value this partnership deeply and look forward to strengthening our collaboration in the years ahead.
*Culled from September Edition of PAV Magazine
