Balance of power: energy minister Thierry Tanoh was sacked by President Alassane
Explorers mull Côte d’Ivoire campaigns
Tullow, BP and CNR are among IOCs with drilling plans
Attractive licensing terms and a revamped acreage map have put Côte d'Ivoire firmly back on the radar for explorers. But the country could do with an early discovery to persuade international oil companies (IOC) to convert positive plans into substantial drilling campaigns. Abidjan has been pushing hard to ensure that IOCs maintain interest in an upstream sector that has promised much but delivered few oil and gas discoveries in recent years. A dry well drilled by Ophir Energy in 2017 paved the way for that company's exit from the country. These days, terms for explorers in Côte d'Ivoire are viewed as being amongst the most competitive in Africa. Bernard Looney, BP's head of upstream, praise
Also in this section
18 February 2026
With Texas LNG approaching financial close, Alaska LNG advancing towards a phased buildout and Magnolia LNG positioned for future optionality, Glenfarne CEO Brendan Duval says the coming year will demonstrate how the company’s more focused, owner-operator approach is reshaping LNG infrastructure development in the North America
18 February 2026
The global gas industry is no longer on the backfoot, hesitantly justifying the value of its product, but has greater confidence in gas remaining a core part of the global energy mix for decades
18 February 2026
With marketable supply unlikely to grow significantly and limited scope for pipeline imports, Brazil is expected to continue relying on LNG to cover supply shortfalls, Ieda Gomes, senior adviser of Brazilian thinktank FGV Energia,
tells Petroleum Economist
17 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 26–30 April 2026, will bring together leaders from the political, industrial, financial and technology sectors under the unifying theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All”
