West African states highlight open blocks as costs fall

This year’s Africa Oil Week in Cape Town saw a rash of promotional events by West African states highlighting their exploration opportunities. With oil touching $60, and costs sharply lower following the 2014 price crash, governments are hoping to attract new interest from companies inspired by recent success offshore Senegal and Mauritania, while a ruling by the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (Itlos) means exploration and development drilling can go ahead in promising areas offshore Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.