Sierra Leone has signed a reconnaissance permit agreement with Shell Plc, allowing the company to carry out advanced geological and geophysical surveys across multiple offshore blocks, the country’s petroleum regulator said on Wednesday.
The Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL) said the permit covers an area of about 20,600 square kilometres and will involve basin modelling and petroleum systems analysis aimed at improving understanding of the country’s offshore hydrocarbon potential.
In a statement made available to Energy in Africa, the regulator said the exercise is expected to generate critical technical data that could support future licensing rounds and guide investment decisions in the upstream sector.
Director General of PDSL, Foday Mansaray, said the government is prioritising data acquisition as part of a broader strategy to reduce uncertainty in its offshore basins and draw credible investors.
“Our strategy is deliberately focused on de-risking the basin through high-quality data, attracting credible global players and accelerating the pathway towards exploration drilling,” Mansaray said in the statement.
The regulator added that the permit would provide “a data-driven framework for technical evaluation and potential future participation in licensing opportunities,” noting that detailed subsurface information remains key to unlocking offshore exploration activity.
Agreement builds on earlier deal with Eni
The Shell permit follows a similar reconnaissance agreement signed with Eni in October 2025, as Sierra Leone steps up efforts to assess its deepwater acreage.
Officials say these early-stage survey programmes are necessary to improve geological understanding before committing to drilling campaigns, particularly in frontier basins where limited historical data exists.
Sierra Leone’s offshore region remains underexplored compared to other West African producers, but authorities believe that structured data acquisition could position the country for renewed interest from international oil companies
Shell said the arrangement is part of its standard approach to engaging with governments and evaluating exploration opportunities, stressing that the permit does not amount to a commitment to invest in drilling or production.
A company spokesperson earlier told Reuters that such agreements are typically non-binding and allow access to data needed to assess potential prospects.
“This does not signal any commitment to proceed and any further steps would depend on regulatory processes and due diligence,” the spokesperson said.
Part of wider regional push for exploration
The move comes at a time when several West African countries are working to revive offshore exploration, amid shifting global energy dynamics and growing competition for investment.
Countries across the region have been seeking to improve regulatory frameworks, expand data availability, and attract international operators in a bid to unlock untapped reserves.
For Sierra Leone, officials say the agreement with Shell represents another step toward building a stronger upstream sector, with the expectation that improved data could eventually lead to exploration drilling and longer-term development activity.
