Petrosen, Senegal’s state-owned oil company, is embarking on an ambitious $100 million exploration campaign this year to discover crude oil in onshore fields, marking a significant step in the West African nation’s energy independence strategy.
Senegal recently joined the ranks of significant oil and gas producers with the start of output at the bp-led Greater Tortue Ahmeyim field and Woodside Energy Group’s Sangomar project. Now, the national oil company is planning to strike out independently and make its next discovery, according to Chief Executive Officer Alioune Gueye.
“Since we have discoveries offshore, it begs to reason that we also have the same potential that we have onshore,” Gueye told Bloomberg. “We are investing at least $100 million dollars to jump start that exploration.”
The initiative reflects a broader trend across Africa, where national oil companies in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Angola have taken steps to raise capacity, enabling them to assume roles as explorers and operators of their natural resources. However, developing the necessary skills and financial capacity to compete effectively in the sector remains an ongoing challenge for many African state companies.
bp loaded its first liquefied natural gas cargo from the floating GTA project in 2025, while Woodside began pumping oil from Sangomar the previous year. Both developments experienced delays before reaching production milestones. Senegal hasn’t conducted onshore exploration in decades, according to Gueye, who expressed optimism about potential discoveries.
“Our hope is by the end of the year to have some major find in our onshore basin,” the Petrosen CEO stated, signaling confidence in the geological potential of Senegal’s inland territories.
Source: worldoil.com