Gambia: African Petroleum licences reinstated

With potential new partners showing interest following Cairn Energy’s two discoveries in Senegalese blocks immediately to the north, the government has restored African Petroleum Corporation’s licences for blocks A1 and A4.The licences were cancelled in January for non-performance. African Petroleum had disputed the government’s move and sought arbitration at the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, but proceedings will now be dropped. African Petroleum has negotiated an extension to the first exploration period, which will now expire on 1 September 2016.