The Gabonese government has declared the Grand N’Gongui oil field commercially viable and approved its move from exploration to development, marking a step toward sustaining national crude output.
Authorities formalized the decision by signing a commerciality agreement with Assala Gabon, the project operator, in a ceremony led by Oil and Gas Minister Clotaire Kondja.
“With the signing of the declaration of commerciality for the Grand N’Gongui field, the project run by Assala Gabon moves from exploration to development,” the minister said.
The declaration confirms that both authorities and the operator consider the identified reserves economically viable under the current contract. The agreement allows Assala Gabon to invest in developing the field.
Officials have not revealed how much capital investment the development will require. Project stakeholders also have not disclosed the size of the reserves or hydrocarbon resources. They noted, however, that production could reach about 10,000 barrels per day once development is complete.
The Grand N’Gongui field sits onshore in the Mutamba-Iroru block, south of Gamba in Ogooué-Maritime province. VAALCO Energy discovered the field in 2012. Assala Gabon later took over the asset and now manages its development after several years of exploration.
Assala Gabon currently produces between 55,000 and 67,000 barrels per day, according to board chairman Marcellin Simba Ngabi. The company plans to add output from Grand N’Gongui to this volume.
In 2023, oil exports reached CFA3,992.7 billion ($7.23 billion) and accounted for roughly 67% of Gabon’s total exports, according to Agence Ecofin. A Banque de France report the same year showed that the oil sector contributed 38.4% to nominal GDP between 2019 and 2023.
National oil production reached 84 million barrels in 2024, a 3.1% increase from the previous year, according to sector data published in April 2025. This equates to an average of about 230,000 barrels per day.
This performance comes despite natural declines at several mature fields. In response, authorities have stepped up efforts to encourage deep offshore exploration to renew reserves and maintain national production.
source:www.ecofinagency.com
African Energy Council