By Ayomide Otitoju
Equatorial Guinea will open its next licensing round in April 2026, offering up to 24 exploration blocks across offshore and onshore acreage, the country’s Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mining Development, Antonio Oburu Ondo, announced Monday at the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 conference.
The round is part of Equatorial Guinea’s strategy to boost upstream activity, attract new investment, and expand offshore exploration opportunities. It builds on the country’s open-door licensing policy introduced in 2023, which has already resulted in seven new production-sharing contracts (PSCs) and a multi-billion-dollar deal with ConocoPhillips.
“The Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mining Development invites all companies worldwide to participate in the 2026 licensing round,” Ondo said. “We have vast resources to be developed for the benefit of our country.”
During the session, titled Equatorial Guinea’s New Exploration Drive, investors were given access to fresh geological data, including insights into the country’s offshore basins. Roberto Blanco, CEO of Perceptum, noted Equatorial Guinea’s strong potential, pointing out that 79 of 118 historical exploration wells have encountered hydrocarbons despite limited drilling activity.
To strengthen investor confidence, the government, alongside Perceptum and GeoexMCG, is reprocessing more than 9,600 km² of seismic data in the Rio Muni Basin. Searcher Seismic is also acquiring and reprocessing 2D and 3D seismic surveys in underexplored areas, with new datasets expected to be available by April 2026.
Neil Hodgson, Vice President of Geoscience at Searcher, said: “We have started reprocessing seismic data, including all 2D lines, to give companies a regional view of petroleum systems. The EGW 98 and EGW05 Regional 2Ds are being reprocessed and will be released in April 2026.”
The country’s existing gas infrastructure, including long-established processing facilities, provides additional security for investors. Oscar Berniko, Director General of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, stressed that these assets will support future offtake and export capacity.
Equatorial Guinea has also introduced fiscal reforms to enhance competitiveness. Jay Park, Director at Park Energy Law, highlighted a 10% reduction in corporate income tax as part of recent changes.
Beyond hydrocarbons, the government is reforming its mining sector to drive diversification. Deputy Minister of Hydrocarbons Domingo Mba Esono said new legislation will focus on creating a more competitive mining regime, with tax incentives, stable royalties, and a stronger fiscal framework.
