Cameroon has opened nine oil and gas exploration and production blocks to investors under its current licensing round, with proposals due by March 30, 2026, and a final decision expected in late April, according to an African Energy Chamber press release.
The tender, launched in August 2025 and managed by the National Hydrocarbons Corp., covers acreage in the Rio del Rey basin and the Douala, Kribi, Campo basin.
The blocks sit close to producing fields and include prior drilling data, seismic surveys and identified prospects that allow companies to assess exploration potential early.
Authorities offer several contractual options, including concession agreements, production-sharing contracts and risk-service contracts.
According to the African Energy Chamber (AEC), exploration periods vary by block, with initial terms ranging from three to five years and options for renewal.
Companies must submit technical studies, budgets, environmental commitments and local content plans alongside proposed work programs.
The government has released data packages and bid criteria to support investor assessment as mature oil fields experience declining output.
Data rooms operate in the capital, Yaounde, and abroad to facilitate due diligence, AEC said.
Industry representatives highlight existing infrastructure, known hydrocarbon reserves and significant gas resources as factors that reduce exploration risk.
The licensing round coincides with upcoming energy investment forums in Paris in April 2026 and Cape Town in October, where companies and financiers are expected to review African energy projects and potential partnerships.
Cameroon aims to use new exploration activity to sustain production capacity, expand domestic energy supply and strengthen its position in regional and international hydrocarbon markets as African energy demand continues to grow.
