ARTHUR EZE’S ATLAS ORANTO LOSES SENEGAL OFFSHORE OIL BLOCK AS GOVERNMENT CRACKS DOWN ON DORMANT LICENCES
Senegal has sent a blunt signal to oil and gas operators across Africa by revoking the offshore exploration licence held by Atlas Oranto Petroleum, the privately owned energy company founded by Nigerian oil magnate Arthur Eze.
The move follows years of stalled activity on the Cayar Offshore Shallow block, awarded in 2008 and covering about 3,600 square kilometres north of the Dakar peninsula. Despite being widely regarded as oil-prone, the acreage saw no drilling and only limited seismic work, even after multiple licence extensions.
According to Business Insider Africa, Senegalese authorities concluded that Atlas Oranto failed to meet core financial and operational obligations, including the provision of mandatory bank guarantees. Industry accounts cited in early 2026 indicate that the block remained largely inactive throughout the licence period.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, under the supervision of Birame Souleye Diop, formally withdrew the licence in September 2025, reclaiming the acreage for the state. Officials framed the decision as part of a wider effort to ensure petroleum rights deliver tangible investment rather than being held for speculative value.
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