Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), Hon. Mamma Kandeh, has issued a strong call for greater transparency and accountability from the Gambian government regarding the country’s oil exploration efforts. This demand comes in response to a recent interview by the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, which Kandeh argues has only deepened public concern over the handling of Gambia’s oil resources.

In his statement, Kandeh pointed to the contentious relationship between the Gambian government and African Petroleum, a company owned by Frank Timis, which was initially granted licenses for offshore blocks A1 and A4 in 2006. Despite multiple extensions of the license, African Petroleum allegedly failed to fulfill its obligations, leading to the expiration of the license in 2016. Kandeh claims that the company has since sought to renew its license, possibly with the intent of trading it to larger companies, as they lack the capacity to develop the blocks themselves.

The legal dispute between African Petroleum and the Gambian government escalated to arbitration, with the company suing the government after the expiration of its license.

The Minister of Energy and Petroleum has confirmed that the Gambian government defended its actions in court, but Kandeh has raised questions about why African Petroleum pursued arbitration after their license expired, the outcome of the arbitration case, and why they requested an out-of-court settlement in 2020.

Kandeh also expressed concern over the issuance of a license for the same Block A1 to BP, a major oil company, and their subsequent exit from the project. He questioned BP’s rationale for withdrawing from a block with an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil, citing the company’s explanation of a shift towards “low carbon energy” as insufficient. He further challenged the Minister’s assertion that there are no lucrative oil reserves in The Gambia, suggesting that a more thorough investigation is needed, particularly regarding the country’s offshore boundaries shared with Senegal.

In his closing remarks, Kandeh called for former Petroleum Minister Fafa Sanyang to provide clarity on the nation’s oil prospects and the transactions that took place under his leadership. He emphasized that transparency is essential for the development of The Gambia and for ensuring that the country fully benefits from its natural resources.

The GDC leader’s demands for greater transparency highlight growing concerns among Gambians about the management of the country’s oil resources and the need for clear and accountable governance.