Africa’s upstream oil and gas sector is poised for a wave of activity in 2026, with a mix of field developments, first‑oil targets and frontier exploration prospects that could attract significant investment and partnerships. Delegations from key countries – including Nigeria, Senegal, Libya, Uganda, Mauritania, Zambia, the Gambia and Djibouti – will be presenting opportunities and project milestones at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris on 22–23 April 2026, offering a unique window into the continent’s emerging upstream investment landscape.

Nigeria – Awodi‑07 Appraisal & Chevron Rig Deployment

In Nigeria’s prolific Niger Delta, the Awodi‑07 well discovery and appraisal campaign stands out as a concrete exploration result with direct implications for upstream growth in 2026. The NNPC–Chevron joint venture completed drilling at Awodi‑07, confirming hydrocarbon‑bearing reservoirs and bolstering plans to unlock additional crude production potential, supporting near‑term production expansions.

Adding to this momentum, Chevron has signaled plans to deploy a drilling rig in late 2026, targeting new prospects near the Agbami field area and aiming to extend leases while advancing exploration within Nigeria’s digital licensing framework. Together, the Awodi‑07 results and rig‑backed exploration plans illustrate a renewed upstream push in Africa’s largest producer, offering investors insight into drilling timelines, field expansion options and potential farm‑out opportunities.

Senegal – Petrosen’s Onshore Exploration Campaign

Senegal is shifting some upstream focus onshore in 2026, complementing previous offshore production from Sangomar. Petrosen, the national oil company, has launched an aggressive ~$100 million onshore exploration campaign targeting the MSGBC Basin interior, a largely underexplored area compared with offshore counterparts.

The program encompasses Phase 1 high‑resolution seismic acquisition and basin modelling in early 2026, followed by exploratory well drilling planned for Q3–Q4 2026, with the goal of identifying high‑priority hydrocarbon traps and unlocking terrestrial oil potential. For investors, Petrosen’s onshore thrust presents a faster execution cycle and lower-cost exploration pathway relative to deepwater projects, drawing attention at Paris where fiscal incentives and partnership models will be discussed.

Libya – Gulf of Sirte Deepwater Exploration Well

In Libya, a major deepwater exploration well has already spud in the Gulf of Sirte, marking one of the most significant offshore campaigns in years. The operation – involving Eni, bp, Saipem, and Libya’s National Oil Corporation – is targeting subsalt and deeper structures at approximately 1,900 m water depth, with drilling planned to reach ~4,500 m below the seabed.

This deepwater campaign signals a strategic move beyond traditional onshore drilling into frontier plays with substantial upside if commercial hydrocarbons are encountered. Operators are also positioning seismic reprocessing and advanced subsurface modelling to support additional well targets in 2026 and beyond. At IAE 2026, Libya’s delegation is expected to highlight this campaign alongside broader upstream drilling activity targeting 70-100 wells nationwide, reflecting renewed operational confidence.

Uganda – Tilenga & Kingfisher Development‑Linked Drilling

In East Africa, Tilenga and Kingfisher in Uganda’s Albertine Graben represent near‑term development-linked drilling in 2026. While technically development rather than frontier exploration, these wells are critical to the country’s upstream output.

Tilenga, operated by TotalEnergies (56.67%), CNOOC (28.33%), and UNOC (15%), is advancing with hundreds of well completions and infrastructure build-outs feeding into planned first oil later this year. Kingfisher, led by CNOOC with UNOC participation, is progressing its drilling slate on adjacent acreage. These campaigns underscore high drilling intensity and structured work commitments, making them noteworthy for investors tracking execution timelines, rig utilization and reservoir performance.

Mauritania & The Gambia – Offshore Seismic & Frontier Prospects

In Mauritania’s offshore waters, TGS has launched a large‑scale multi‑client 3D seismic mega‑survey covering more than 100,000 km², designed to de‑risk acreage and reveal new exploration plays across the Atlantic margin. By providing enhanced subsurface insight from nearshore to ultra‑deepwater, the Mauritania MegaSurvey is expected to enable operators to better assess exploration targets and optimize future exploration investment decisions, potentially accelerating licence interest and drilling activity in 2026 and beyond.

In The Gambia, regulatory engagement continues to support seismic acquisition and preparatory studies aimed at converting leads into drillable prospects by year‑end, particularly where regional basin architecture shows continuity with proven systems offshore Senegal and Mauritania. For investors, the combination of seismic expansion and basin de-risking work across MSGBC provides a platform for future exploration campaigns and rig deployment discussions at the Paris forum.