Apus Energy Drives Offshore Revival in Guinea-Bissau Ahead of African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Silver Partnership
In a key development for West African exploration, Apus Energy spudded the Atum-1X exploration well offshore Guinea-Bissau in September 2024 – the first offshore well in the country in nearly 20 years. Located near Senegal's prolific Sangomar field, the prospect holds a potential 314 million barrels of recoverable oil. The well is being drilled using the Ocean BlackRhino, a seventh-generation drillship operated by Noble Corporation, with well management provided by AGR, part of ABL Group.
AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit https://AECWeek.com/ for more information about this exciting event.
Apus Energy entered Guinea-Bissau's upstream sector through the acquisition of 100% interest in the Sinapa (Block 2) and Esperança (Blocks 4A and 5A) licenses from Spanish oil and gas company Petronor. The $85 million farm-out agreement included upfront payments for historical license costs and contingent milestones tied to government approval of a field development plan and sustained production. Covering a total area of 4,962 km 2, the licenses contain two main prospects – Atum and Anchova – with a combined estimated 467 million barrels of unrisked prospective resources.
Apus Energy's drilling campaign positions Guinea-Bissau as one of West Africa's most closely watched emerging plays. The company's long-term strategy aligns with the region's energy ambitions and presents new opportunities for investment, local capacity building and energy security.
'Apus Energy's work offshore Guinea-Bissau is a strong signal that frontier exploration in West Africa is entering a new chapter. Their commitment to high-impact drilling, strategic partnerships and long-term value creation reflects the kind of leadership needed to unlock the region's vast untapped potential,' states Tomás Gerbasio, VP of Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber.
With drilling operations in motion and large-scale reserves in play, Apus Energy's participation at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 highlights West Africa's strong investment climate and promising potential for frontier basin development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
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