Dakar Summit to Put MSGBC’s Untapped Onshore Potential in Focus
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Much of the MSGBC basin’s onshore acreage remains unexplored despite decades of geological evidence pointing to hydrocarbon potential, and national oil companies are beginning to look more closely at what lies beneath it. Petrosen’s $100 million independent onshore exploration campaign in Senegal is the clearest recent signal of this shift, while a technical session at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 will examine how the wider basin could overcome the data and financing barriers that have kept onshore exploration on the sidelines.
Senegal produced minor volumes from the Diam Niadio field on the Dakar peninsula during the 1950s and 1960s, while Guinea-Conakry’s SONAP has identified prospectivity across the onshore Bowé Basin, where historical wells confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons. The Gambia’s onshore acreage similarly remains largely unexplored. Across the region, however, geological and seismic data coverage has yet to mature to the level needed for investors to properly evaluate prospects and support drilling decisions.
Petrosen’s $100 million campaign targeting Senegalese frontier basins could provide a model for other NOCs in the region. Rather than waiting for international explorers to take on the geological and commercial risk, the campaign puts the national oil company at the front of the exploration process and could generate the data needed to attract external capital.
The technical presentation, “De-risking Onshore Potential Across the MSGBC Basin,” scheduled for Day 0 of MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026, will examine how the region can address this data deficit and establish a roadmap for exploration. Key discussion points will include integrating cross-border geological data; deploying modern geophysical surveys and targeted stratigraphic drilling; strengthening cooperation among regional NOCs; and developing exploration funds and fiscal frameworks suited to frontier onshore acreage.
Other African markets demonstrate the potential impact of NOC-led exploration strategies. Algeria’s Sonatrach has developed extensive onshore exploration and production capabilities, including the Hassi Messaoud oil field and Hassi R’Mel gas field, while continuing to attract international partners into new acreage. Algeria awarded five of six blocks in its first onshore licensing round in more than a decade in 2025, with consortia led by Eni, TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Sinopec securing acreage and Sonatrach retaining its mandatory 51% interest.
For the MSGBC region, where domestic gas-to-power demand is growing, unlocking onshore resources could complement the capital-intensive offshore developments already reshaping the basin. Smaller-scale discoveries could offer opportunities for faster development and domestic supply, while improved geological data would give international investors greater visibility into frontier acreage.
Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and stay at the forefront of the MSGBC region's oil, gas and power sectors. Visit www.msgbcoilgasandpower.com to secure your participation at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 conference, December 1-3, Dakar. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.