Foday Mansaray, Director General of governmental regulatory and administrative body the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL), will participate as a speaker at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference and exhibition, taking place in Dakar from December 9-10. His participation comes ahead of the country’s upcoming offshore licensing round, seismic acquisition campaigns and future drill prospects.
The PDSL is preparing to launch its sixth offshore licensing round in October 2025, with up to 60 blocks on offer. The round follows a multi-client 3D seismic survey launched in June 2025 in partnership with GeoPartners, which is expected to de-risk prospects in Sierra Leone’s northwestern offshore. Results from the campaign will inform acreage availability and could open opportunities for direct negotiations in ultra-deepwater areas.
Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and stay at the forefront of the MSGBC region’s oil, gas and power sector. Visit www.msgbcoilgasandpower.com to secure your participation at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
The licensing round forms part of a broader push to restart offshore drilling for the first time since 2012. The PDSL has announced plans for a new drilling campaign in 2025 or 2026, with Nigerian operator F.A. Oil already identifying potential leads of up to two billion barrels of hydrocarbons across six blocks awarded in the fifth licensing round.
Institutional developments are also underway in the country, with Sierra Leone finalizing the creation of a new national oil company, which will hold a 10% carried interest in future projects and target a 25-30% overall stake. On the downstream side, a domestic refinery is being pursued under Sierra Leone’s oil and gas master plan to reduce reliance on imported products, which currently average 15,000 barrels per day.
The PDSL is also advancing regulatory and fiscal reforms to strengthen investor confidence, maintaining one of the region’s most competitive frameworks. Alongside a 25% corporate income tax and low royalty rates, the government is introducing measures to streamline licensing procedures and enhance transparency, ensuring timely approvals and effective oversight of upcoming projects.
“Director General Mansaray’s participation at this conference underscores Sierra Leone’s renewed drive to attract investment, launch new offshore activity and establish critical national oil and gas institutions. MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 provides a timely platform to connect with global investors and position Sierra Leone at the forefront of Africa’s energy frontier,” states Sandra Jeque, Project Director, Energy Capital & Power.