Cameroon opens nine exploration opportunities spanning two proven oil, gas basins

Cameroon’s National Hydrocarbons Corp. (SNH) is offering nine exploration and production blocks spanning two proven basins in its latest licensing round.

The round includes three blocks in the Rio del Rey (RDR) basin (Ndian River, Bolongo Exploration, and Bakassi), and six in the Douala-Kribi Campo (DKC) basin (Etinde Exploration, Bomono, Nkombe Nsepe, Tilapia, Ntem, and Elombo), the African Energy Chamber said in a release Feb. 19.

These blocks feature prior drilling, 2D and 3D seismic coverage, identified leads and undrilled prospects, and are located near existing producing fields.

The licensing round accommodates multiple contractual frameworks, including Concession Contracts, Production Sharing Contracts, and Risk Service Contracts. Exploration periods vary by block: Bolongo, Bomono, Etinde Exploration, Tilapia, Ntem, and Elombo have an initial 3-year term, renewable twice for 2-year periods, while Bakassi, Kombe-Nsepe, and Ndian River have 5-year initial terms, also renewable.

Companies must submit proposals including technical evaluations, minimum work programs, budgets, environmental, and social commitments and local content plans. Minimum work programs require drilling exploration wells, seismic acquisition, and geoscience studies.

Proposals are being accepted until Mar. 30, 2026, ahead of a final decision in late April.