Guinea-Conakry, long known as one of the world’s leading bauxite exporters with approximately 100 million tonnes shipped in the first half of 2025, has now established itself as an emerging player in West Africa’s oil and gas sector. Geologically, the country is located in the MSGBC basin (Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry), a remote region that is gaining attention for its hydrocarbon potential.
Neighboring Senegal and Mauritania have already achieved important milestones. Senegal will produce first oil from Woodside’s Sangomar field in June 2024, and both countries will begin gas production from BP and Kosmos Energy’s Greater Tortue-Amerim field in late 2024. As the region establishes itself as a strategic energy frontier, Guinea-Conakry is advancing its regulatory framework, seismic research and investor outreach to capitalize on this momentum.
Geological potential of hydrocarbon reserves
Guinea-Conakry is located along the equatorial Atlantic margin and shares a geological history with Guyana and Suriname. Its Cretaceous formations, ocean-sourced rocks, structural traps, and sedimentary basins reflect what has enabled Guyana and Suriname to become prolific oil-producing regions, with more than 10 billion barrels discovered to date. Additionally, the country has amassed a portfolio of 2D and 3D seismic data covering 17,000 km², alongside historical borehole data. This is a resource comparable to that which underpinned early exploration in Guyana and Suriname.
SONAP’s role in emerging fields
Founded in 2021, Guinea-Conakry’s national oil company SONAP (Société Nationale des Pétroles de Guinée) is at the heart of the country’s oil and gas ambitions. Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Lancinet Condé, SONAP has strengthened its technical capabilities with advanced field instruments such as topographic mapping tools, gas detection tools, and mapping tools to enable more effective assessments of onshore and offshore lands.
SONAP also collaborated with SLB and TGS to establish the first national seismic data visualization center. The center houses approximately 15,000 km² of 3D seismic data and 45,000 km² of 2D data, providing investors with a valuable base for exploration.
Early exploration results are encouraging. Wells such as GU-2B-1 and Sabu-1 confirmed a functioning petroleum system in Upper Cretaceous formations with mature source rocks, high-quality reservoirs, and hydrocarbon evidence. Although previous deepwater drilling at Fatala-1 has not resulted in commercial production, geological similarities between the proven Atlantic equatorial margin basin and the prospective structure continue to attract investor interest.
Improving investment attractiveness
SONAP has initiated reforms aimed at positioning Guinea-Conakry as a competitive oil and gas destination. A national petroleum register was established and 22 fields were identified as candidates for bidding rounds. In April 2025, SONAP launched two tenders. One concerns the development of a storage and product management platform, and the other concerns the attainment of ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certification in quality and safety. These efforts demonstrate a commitment to transparency, operational efficiency, and investor-friendly governance.
For investors, high-quality seismic and geological data in Guinea-Conakry reduces upfront costs and uncertainties, reducing exploration risk. Early participants in licensing rounds can secure favorable terms before competition heats up.
Going forward, these developments will be highlighted at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference and exhibition, to be held in Dakar from December 9th to 10th. This event provides a platform for international investors to engage directly with SONAP, explore available blocks and gain first-hand insight into new hydrocarbon potential in Guinea-Conakry.
Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and remain at the forefront of the oil, gas and power sector in the MSGBC region. To secure your participation in the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference, please visit www.msgbcoilgasandpower.com. To become a sponsor or participate as a representative, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
