Hon. Mamma Kandeh, the leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has recently issued a strong demand for the Gambian government to demonstrate greater transparency and accountability in its oil exploration endeavors. This demand is in response to a recent interview by the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, which Kandeh contends has only served to exacerbate public apprehension regarding the management of Gambia’s hydrocarbon resources.

Kandeh noted in his statement the contentious relationship between the Gambian government and African Petroleum, a company owned by Frank Timis. African Petroleum was initially granted licenses for offshore blocks A1 and A4 in 2006. The license expired in 2016 as a result of African Petroleum’s alleged failure to fulfill its obligations, despite multiple extensions of the license. Kandeh alleges that the company has since attempted to renew its license, potentially with the intention of transferring it to larger companies, as they are unable to develop the blocks independently.

African Petroleum filed a lawsuit against the Gambian government following the expiration of its license, after the legal dispute between the two parties escalated to arbitration.

According to the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, the Gambian government successfully defended its actions in court. However, Kandeh has raised inquiries regarding the reasons for African Petroleum’s decision to pursue arbitration after their license expired, the outcome of the arbitration case, and the reason for their request for an out-of-court settlement in 2020.

Kandeh also expressed apprehension regarding the issuance of a license for the same Block A1 to BP, a significant oil company, and their subsequent withdrawal from the project. He criticized BP’s justification for withdrawing from a block that contains an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil, deeming the company’s justification of a transition to “low carbon energy” to be inadequate. He further disputed the Minister’s claim that The Gambia possesses no profitable oil reserves, implying that a more comprehensive investigation is required, particularly in relation to the country’s shared offshore boundaries with Senegal.

Kandeh requested that former Petroleum Minister Fafa Sanyang provide a clear explanation of the transactions that occurred under his stewardship and the nation’s oil prospects in his closing remarks. He emphasized the importance of transparency in the development of The Gambia and in ensuring that the country derives the maximum benefits from its natural resources.

The GDC leader’s demands for increased transparency underscore the increasing apprehension among Gambians regarding the management of the country’s hydrocarbon resources and the necessity of transparent and accountable governance.