• Reform aims to draw foreign investors, improve oversight
• New surveys, exploration planned to revive falling output

Gabon plans to split its hydrocarbons law into two separate codes for oil and gas as part of a legal overhaul aimed at attracting foreign investment, the petroleum ministry said this week.

Petroleum and Gas Minister Sosthène Nguema announced the reform on the sidelines of African Energy Week 2025 in Cape Town. Officials said the new framework will improve transparency and regulation while making the sector more appealing to international companies.

“The new Petroleum Code will update the current Hydrocarbons Code, while a separate Gas Code will set rules designed to secure foreign investment in the gas industry,” said Duplex Yockot, director general of economic, legal and petroleum data management at the ministry.

The reform comes alongside new seismic surveys, promotion of undeveloped discoveries, and expanded activity by state-owned Gabon Oil Company (GOC) to optimize mature fields and explore new acreage.

Gabon’s oil output has been declining since the late 1990s as fields mature. Production averaged between 220,000 and 236,000 barrels per day in late 2024 and early 2025. Authorities hope to reverse the trend with intensified exploration in deep and ultra-deep offshore blocks.

Beyond boosting production, the government aims to strengthen Gabon’s role in regional energy supply, diversify revenues and prepare for a transition in which natural gas will play a greater role.

Abdel-Latif Boureima