The National Petroleum Agency of São Tomé and Principe has invited eligible oil companies to submit technical and financial proposals for Blocks 7, 8 and 9, offering up to an 85% participating interest in the country’s western Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The announcement reflects rising international interest in São Tomé and Principe’s frontier acreage and signals a renewed push to attract investment into high-potential offshore assets.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomes the tender as a strong indication of growing investor confidence in Central Africa’s upstream sector. For the Chamber, the licensing round highlights São Tomé and Principe’s role in unlocking new hydrocarbon frontiers, strengthening regional energy integration and reinforcing Africa’s position as a competitive destination for exploration capital.
Blocks 7, 8 and 9 are located in the western EEZ, a frontier area considered geologically analogous to prolific basins offshore Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Recent seismic reprocessing has confirmed the presence of viable petroleum systems, with exploration targeting Cretaceous structures. Industry momentum has intensified following increased activity by companies such as Petrobras and Shell.
São Tomé and Principe’s upstream sector is entering a new phase of activity, driven by renewed interest from international oil companies and improved geological understanding. While no commercial discoveries have yet been declared, wells such as Jaca-1 and Falcão-1 have confirmed working petroleum systems, providing critical data to guide future exploration and reduce risk across adjacent blocks.
The country is positioning itself as a long-term frontier play, with expectations of increase seismic acquisition and drilling campaigns from late 2026. Strategic partnerships between operators are enabling shared infrastructure and data utilization, lowering development costs. First commercial production is widely anticipated post-2030, contingent on successful discoveries and continued investment inflows.
“São Tomé and Principe is opening a compelling new chapter for frontier exploration, and these blocks offer a meaningful opportunity for companies ready to think long-term. We encourage investors to engage with this process and bring both capital and technical expertise to unlock the basin’s potential. The Chamber stands firmly behind efforts that expand Africa’s upstream landscape and create shared value across the region,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
Through the submission, companies are required to submit separate proposals per block, including corporate, financial and technical documentation, with submissions due by June 30, 2026. The blocks are governed by the country’s Petroleum Operations Law No. 16/2009, offering a stable fiscal framework and flexible entry terms.
