Equatorial Guinea's new fiscal reforms, exploration initiatives and data-sharing strategies – along with 24 available exploration blocks and two blocks for appraisal and development – will be highlighted at African Energy Week 2025: Invest in African Energies
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 17, 2025/APO Group/ --
Equatorial Guinea has officially relaunched its open-door licensing process for 2025, setting the stage for a major licensing round at the end of 2025 or early 2026. This move marks a strategic shift toward prioritizing licensing and exploration, with a strong focus on regulatory competitiveness, tax incentives and data transparency. These developments will take center stage at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies, taking place in Cape Town on September 29-October 3, where the “Invest in African Energies: Equatorial Guinea” session will provide a platform for global investors to engage with the country's evolving energy strategy.
Equatorial Guinea Relaunches Open-Door Licensing Process in Houston, Texas, Paving the Way for Major 2025/2026 Licensing Round (1)
Equatorial Guinea Relaunches Open-Door Licensing Process in Houston, Texas, Paving the Way for Major 2025/2026 Licensing Round (2)
Equatorial Guinea Relaunches Open-Door Licensing Process in Houston, Texas, Paving the Way for Major 2025/2026 Licensing Round (3)
Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Antonio Oburu Ondo, outlined the country’s comprehensive exploration strategy at CERAWeek in Houston last week, aimed at boosting hydrocarbon production, attracting investment, addressing declining output and enhancing competitiveness. Fiscal reforms include reducing corporate tax from 35% to 25%, dividends tax from 25% to 10%, and withholding tax from 6.25% to 3% for residents (or from 15% to 10% for non-residents). The country’s open-door policy enables international oil and gas companies to apply for licenses through a streamlined process involving direct negotiation with the state.
The government’s aggressive promotion policy has already yielded results, with seven new production-sharing contracts awarded in record time. These include blocks EG-31 and EG-18 to Africa Oil Corp, blocks EG-11 and EG-06 to Chevron, blocks EG-23 and EG-01 to Panoro Energy and Block EG-08 to Antler Global. The next licensing round will be underpinned by a new competitive tax law, a strengthened hydrocarbons law and the launch of a multi-client 3D seismic acquisition initiative – all aimed at boosting investor confidence and accelerating exploration.
The new multi-client 3D seismic acquisition and reprocessing of legacy data is set to launch by year-end, ensuring that investors have access to high-quality geological insights. This initiative will be highlighted at AEW 2025, where industry leaders will explore how enhanced data-sharing and transparency can drive exploration success across Africa. These efforts directly support an intensified focus on drilling, with all the country’s operators having either executed in-field or exploration drilling campaigns in 2024 or planning to do so between 2025 and 2027, according to Minister Oburu Ondo.
Equatorial Guinea’s Gas Mega Hub initiative remains a key pillar of its energy strategy, with ongoing collaborations with Cameroon on the Yoyo-Yolanda fields and Nigeria on the Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project to monetize and process gas at the onshore Punta Europa facilities. The country is advancing multi-phase initiatives including the Alen Gas Monetization Project (580 BCF), Alba Tail Gas Monetization Project (825 BCF) and Aseng Gas Monetization Project (~1 TCF) to strengthen its position as a regional gas powerhouse. The government is also making strides in climate initiatives, working to reposition Equatorial Guinea as a leader in gas and transitional energy while establishing carbon credit ventures through international collaborations.
As Africa works to attract investment to transform its energy sector, Equatorial Guinea’s strategic reforms provide a model for other nations, demonstrating how regulatory competitiveness, investor-friendly policies and a robust licensing framework can drive long-term success.
AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
I think the author forgets it is the Somali people who keep asking for their alliance only then to change their minds where their help will take them. Especially some individuals who think they can dictate to the world. Somalilanders are not blaming the US nor are they requesting special treatment. Siad Bare decision to change to a socialist regime in 1977 to continue his dictatorship was his own demise. The US or UN would not have supported any more then any other dictators todate. Siad Bare attempt to go to war against Ethiopia was another reason the US and UN would have rather supported the Ethiopia then him. The Author is spitting his own face or rather the face of Somalilanders who do not share his views. Somalilanders had no choice but to return to fight for its sovernty when Siad Bare was intent on continuing his greedy endeavours that had the envitable outcome of defeat. As it has been for the past 20years the mafia attitude is getting old.