Eni Ghana and its partner, Vitol Upstream Tano Ltd (Vitol), have signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Government of Ghana for offshore petroleum blocks in the Tano Basin, paving the way for the finalisation of Petroleum Agreements.
The MoUs cover the GH WB 3 and GH WB 8 blocks, which together span approximately 2,100 square kilometres offshore Ghana, with water depths ranging from 750 to 2,800 metres.
According to a statement issued by Eni, the agreements were signed in Accra on September 10, 2026, by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, on behalf of the Government. Executives of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) witnessed the signing.
The development marks a further step towards opening up the two blocks for exploration and potentially expanding petroleum activity in the Tano Basin, one of Ghana’s established offshore hydrocarbon areas.
According to Eni, the blocks fit into its near-field and Infrastructure-Led Exploration (ILX) strategy, which seeks to leverage existing petroleum infrastructure and the proximity of producing areas to explore prospective resources.
The company said the approach could help unlock the potential of the two areas while making use of infrastructure already established in Ghana’s offshore petroleum sector.
The latest agreements follow a Memorandum of Intent signed by the parties last year and represent further progress towards the conclusion of Petroleum Agreements for the blocks.
Eni said its continued interest in the blocks forms part of its long-term commitment to investment and exploration in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector, while stressing that the development of the country’s petroleum resources would be undertaken in accordance with Ghana’s legal and regulatory framework.
The Italian energy company has operated in Ghana since 2009 and currently has equity production of about 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, according to the statement.
Eni is also the operator of the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) project, in which it holds a 44.4 per cent interest. Vitol holds a 35.6 per cent stake, while GNPC owns the remaining 20 per cent.
The OCTP project is one of Ghana’s key offshore petroleum developments and has provided an established operational base for Eni and its partners in the country.
Beyond oil and gas production, Eni said its joint venture portfolio in Ghana includes programmes focused on training, economic diversification, access to water and sanitation, and energy access.
The company said the initiatives form part of its broader contribution to Ghana’s development alongside its upstream petroleum activities.
The signing of the MoUs, however, does not itself constitute the final Petroleum Agreements. The parties are expected to proceed with the processes required to finalise the agreements covering the two offshore blocks.
The development comes as Ghana continues efforts to sustain investment in its upstream petroleum industry and attract exploration activity to new and prospective offshore areas.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
