Gambian President Adama Barrow has appointed Cany Jobe as Chief Executive Officer of the Gambia Petroleum Commission, a strategic decision in line with the country's ambition to structure and accelerate the development of its oil and gas sector. This appointment comes amid enhanced regulatory reforms and active promotion of land areas, as The Gambia seeks to establish itself as one of West Africa's most attractive exploration destinations.
As head of the Petroleum Commission, Ms Jobe will be the main promoter of the Gambian oil and gas sector. Her mission will be to attract international investment, strengthen the country's institutional credibility and position The Gambia as a world-class destination for upstream capital in an increasingly competitive regional environment.
Ms Jobe brings nearly 18 years of international experience covering the entire oil and gas value chain to this position. An engineer by training, she holds a Master's degree in Engineering from the University of Western Australia and a Master's degree in International Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University. Prior to her appointment, she served as Director of Exploration and Production at the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation, where she played a key role in defining upstream strategy, managing petroleum data and engaging with potential investors. Her career also includes experience with regional and international institutions in Asia, Australia, West Africa and the Americas, notably with China Petroleum Corporation, Venezuela's PDVSA and the ECOWAS Commission as a national consultant.
This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for energy development in The Gambia. Located in the heart of the MSGBC basin, the country has significant geological and strategic assets, including an attractive offshore area, constantly improving data coverage, promising geology and a regulatory framework that is currently being modernised. Although no commercial oil discoveries have been made to date, the authorities believe that the main challenges lie more in attracting investment than in resource potential. Recent initiatives are specifically aimed at removing these constraints and repositioning the country on the global exploration map.
In line with this dynamic, The Gambia is actively opening up its upstream sector to international exploration companies. More than eight offshore blocks and two onshore blocks are currently available for investment, making the country one of the most accessible frontier markets in West Africa. Approximately 80% of offshore seismic and geological data has already been acquired, a key factor in reducing exploration risk and accelerating investment decisions for interested operators.
The Gambia's value proposition is further enhanced by its location within the MSGBC basin, one of the world's most prolific offshore provinces. World-class discoveries in neighbouring countries, notably the Sangomar oil field in Senegal and the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim cross-border project between Senegal and Mauritania, highlight geological similarities that suggest comparable potential in Gambian waters.
Beyond geological considerations, regulatory reform is a central pillar of the country's upstream strategy. The government is currently finalising a new bill on oil exploration, development and production, aimed at enhancing transparency, institutional efficiency and investor confidence. This bill is expected to be part of a broader reform of the regulatory framework, aligning Gambian legislation with international best practices and significantly improving the operating environment for foreign investors.
In this context, the appointment of Cany Jobe appears to be a major strategic choice. His technical, institutional and international experience should enable the transformation of Gambia's geological potential, improved data coverage and regulatory advances into concrete exploration commitments and sustainable upstream investments, thereby positioning the country among the next generation of oil and gas producers in West Africa.