Gabon is preparing to replace its 2019 Hydrocarbons Code with separate Oil and Gas codes in a strategic move to attract foreign investment and strengthen regulatory transparency, according to Minister of Oil and Gas Sosthène Nguema Nguema.
The minister explained that separating the existing framework into dedicated codes will create clearer regulatory pathways for investors while improving oversight across the sector. The initiative comes as Gabon pursues an ambitious target of reaching 200,000 barrels per day in oil and gas production.
Duplex Yockot, Director General of Economic, Legal Affairs and Petroleum Data Management at the Ministry of Oil and Gas, clarified that the new Oil Code will build on the existing framework to address legal aspects of the petroleum industry, while the Gas Code will contain provisions specifically designed to secure foreign investment in gas development.
Industry observers have welcomed the regulatory clarity. Preye Angaye, Executive Director Infrastructure and New Business at Century Group, noted that the country’s clear production goals and functional investment framework will encourage potential investors to consider Gabon seriously.
Supporting the regulatory overhaul, Gabon is advancing seismic research to improve geological understanding of its basins. Michel Mouba, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Oil and Gas, confirmed that subsurface studies have been completed and that the government is actively promoting undeveloped discoveries backed by comprehensive data.
The state-owned Gabon Oil Company is spearheading upstream developments, focusing on both mature field redevelopment and frontier exploration campaigns. Emery Lepo, Business Strategy Director at GOC, stated that the company aims to enhance production and revenue for the government through aggressive exploration, leveraging its position as the national oil company to assist, partner, and drive projects forward.
Assala Gabon, an affiliate of Assala Energy, continues delivering stable production from onshore assets through asset rejuvenation strategies. Managing Director Edgar Mba Ognane revealed ambitious drilling and workover programs, with two workover rigs currently operating and a second drilling unit being mobilized. The company expects the N’Gongui marginal field to begin producing in the first quarter of 2026, with an exploration well planned for 2025.
French oil company Maurel & Prom, which produces approximately 16,000 barrels of oil per day in Gabon, has invested heavily in modernizing production infrastructure. CEO Olivier de Langavant emphasized Gabon’s substantial petroleum potential and highlighted the growing importance of gas in the country’s hydrocarbon mix, while stressing the company’s commitment to working closely with Gabonese communities and collaborators.
Source: energycapitalpower.com