Equatorial Guinea is preparing to court global energy investors as it seeks to revive upstream exploration and strengthen its role in the Gulf of Guinea’s oil and gas industry.
The country’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Antonio Oburu Ondo, is expected to headline the upcoming Invest in African Energy Forum 2026, scheduled for April 22–23 in Paris. The forum will bring together government officials, energy companies and financial institutions to discuss investment opportunities across Africa’s energy sector.
At the centre of Equatorial Guinea’s pitch will be EG Ronda 2026, a licensing round offering 24 upstream oil and gas blocks across offshore and onshore basins. The round, which was first unveiled during African Energy Week, is expected to run through late 2026 and forms part of the government’s broader effort to attract fresh exploration capital.
Officials say the licensing round will include revised fiscal terms and a more flexible open-door framework designed to appeal to both major international energy companies and smaller independent operators.
The government has also been expanding its seismic data programs to improve the technical information available to potential bidders and reduce exploration risk.
Beyond the licensing round, Equatorial Guinea is also advancing new partnerships aimed at revitalizing its upstream sector. Earlier this year, the government signed a reconnaissance license agreement with Eni to support further exploration and field evaluation.
Regional cooperation is also taking shape. A recent unitization agreement between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over the Yoyo-Yolanda gas fields is expected to enable joint development of shared resources and improve cross-border infrastructure planning.
Meanwhile, investment momentum continues with the $690 million Aseng Gas Project, supported by Chevron, which forms part of the country’s Gas Mega Hub strategy aimed at positioning Equatorial Guinea as a regional gas processing centre.
With global energy investment becoming increasingly competitive, officials hope the Paris forum will help translate these initiatives into concrete deals and renewed exploration activity.
Sources.