Sierra Leone hopes to kickstart upstream

One of West Africa’s last frontiers aims to join the ranks of regional hydrocarbons producers

Sierra Leone’s decision to push the deadline for bids under its fifth licensing round back to 27 January from the previous date of 30 September was motivated by “increased interest from international and national oil companies” as a result of high oil prices, according to regulator PDSL. An improved price environment has “created exploration funding for companies that were unable to raise the needed capital for frontier exploration”, the regulator says, adding the extra time will allow those firms to complete their geological and geophysical analysis and to review the existing seismic data, which includes 11,000km² of 3D assessments. The fifth round comprises 63,643km² of open acreage, split