Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire and Mozambique plan 10 offshore drilling projects by 2027

A new era has dawned for Africa's oil and gas industry, with the announcement of ten new offshore drilling projects planned between 2026 and 2027 in Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire and Mozambique. This development positions Africa as a key player in the global development of deepwater energy.

Transocean and Valaris, two world leaders in offshore drilling, have revealed that Africa has become the most dynamic region for floating contract opportunities. "Offshore Africa remains the most active area for future opportunities. We are currently tracking around ten long-term programmes, with start-ups planned for 2026 or 2027," said Matt Lyne, senior sales director at Valaris.

This renewed interest is due to growing confidence in Africa's offshore basins, driven by rising global energy demand and improved project profitability. Despite the technical and financial challenges, the oil majors, including Shell, Chevron and TotalEnergies, are redirecting their investments towards deepwater, where operations are more secure and scalable in the face of vandalism and theft problems affecting onshore production.

As Africa's leading oil producer, Nigeria has distinguished itself with major projects such as the Bonga field, operated by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo). In 2023, this field celebrated the historic export of one billion barrels of oil. In 2025, the $5 billion Bonga North project received its final investment decision, boosting the country's offshore prospects.

Ronald Adams, Managing Director of SNEPCo, emphasised the importance of deepwater reserves in achieving Nigeria's target of 2.4 million barrels per day. These reserves, rich in oil and gas, support cleaner energy solutions, meeting domestic needs while helping to reduce global emissions.

Côte d'Ivoire is emerging as an attractive destination thanks to recent deepwater discoveries, while Mozambique continues to attract attention with its vast offshore gas reserves. Both these countries, along with Nigeria, are expected to benefit from foreign direct investment, job creation and local capacity building.

The acceleration of offshore drilling in Africa promises significant economic benefits. Long-term projects, supported by technological advances, should consolidate Africa's position as a global energy hub. As onshore production declines, offshore is emerging as a sustainable solution to meet growing energy demand.

Led by Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire and Mozambique, Africa is emerging as a key player in the next chapter of the offshore energy industry. With ambitious projects and increased support from the oil majors, the region is poised to transform its resources into sustainable economic and energy opportunities, while meeting the technical and environmental challenges of deepwater exploration.