Senegal has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italian energy giant Eni to assess the potential of five offshore oil blocks, as the West African country moves to revive exploration and attract new investment into its petroleum sector.

The agreement, announced by Senegal’s energy minister, gives Eni responsibility for preliminary technical studies on blocks SN01M, SN02M, SN03M, SN07M and SN40M.

The deal was signed at the Gastech conference and forms part of Senegal’s broader strategy to restart oil and gas exploration and promote its sedimentary basin to international investors.

Senegal targets wider oil and gas investment

Energy Minister El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf said the agreement supports the government’s efforts to unlock the potential of Senegal’s offshore resources.

The country is also preparing a much larger investment drive. Diouf said Senegal plans to offer 109 oil and gas blocks to local and international investors, signaling an effort to expand exploration beyond the country’s existing producing assets.

Senegal’s national oil company, Petrosen, will play a central role in developing the country’s sedimentary basin and working with international energy companies on future projects.

The renewed exploration push comes as Senegal seeks to strengthen its position as an emerging African energy producer and attract capital, technology and expertise into its upstream sector.

Eni expands its role in Africa

Eni S.p.A., headquartered in Rome, is one of the world’s major integrated energy companies. Founded in 1953 as Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi under Enrico Mattei, the company has operated across the global energy industry for more than seven decades.

Eni has maintained a presence in Africa for more than 70 years, with operations spanning exploration, development and production across the continent’s energy value chain.

Beyond oil and gas, the company is expanding projects involving natural gas, bioenergy and renewable energy as it seeks to support energy security, diversify energy sources and develop new industrial value chains.

Eni also works with African governments and local partners on initiatives aimed at supporting economic development and local communities.

For Senegal, the agreement provides a pathway for fresh offshore exploration while giving Eni an opportunity to evaluate additional resources in one of West Africa’s increasingly important energy markets.