Gambian President Adama Barrow has appointed Cany Jobe as Director General of Gambia’s Petroleum Commission, a strategic decision in the country’s ambition to organise and accelerate the development of its oil and gas sector. The appointment comes amid stronger regulatory reforms and active promotion of acreage, as Gambia seeks to establish itself as one of West Africa’s most attractive exploration destinations.
As head of the Petroleum Commission, Ms Jobe will be the leading promoter of Gambia’s oil and gas sector. Her mandate will be to attract international investment, strengthen the country’s institutional credibility and position Gambia as a world-class destination for upstream capital in an increasingly competitive regional environment.
Ms Jobe brings nearly 18 years of international experience spanning the oil and gas value chain. An engineer by training, she holds a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Western Australia and a master’s degree in international project management from Glasgow Caledonian University. Before her appointment, she was Director of Exploration and Production at the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation, where she played a key role in shaping upstream strategy, managing petroleum data and engaging potential investors. Her career also includes work with regional and international institutions in Asia, Australia, West Africa and the Americas, including China Petroleum Corporation, Venezuela’s PDVSA and the ECOWAS Commission as a national consultant.
The appointment comes at a pivotal point in Gambia’s energy development. Located at the heart of the MSGBC basin, the country has significant geological and strategic assets, including attractive offshore acreage, steadily improving data coverage, promising geology and a regulatory framework undergoing modernisation. Although no commercial oil discovery has yet been recorded, the authorities believe the main challenges concern attracting investment rather than resource potential. Recently launched initiatives aim to address these constraints and reposition the country on the global exploration map.
As part of this effort, Gambia is actively opening its upstream sector to international exploration companies. More than eight offshore blocks and two onshore blocks are currently available for investment, making it one of West Africa’s most accessible frontier markets. Around 80% of offshore seismic and geological data has already been acquired, a key factor in reducing exploration risk and accelerating investment decisions for interested operators.
Gambia’s value proposition is further strengthened by its location in the MSGBC basin, one of the world’s most prolific offshore provinces. World-class discoveries in neighbouring countries, including Senegal’s Sangomar oil field and the cross-border Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project shared by Senegal and Mauritania, highlight geological similarities that suggest comparable potential in Gambian waters.
Beyond geology, regulatory reform is a central pillar of the country’s upstream strategy. The government is finalising a new bill on petroleum exploration, development and production, aimed at strengthening transparency, institutional effectiveness and investor confidence. The legislation is expected to form part of a broader regulatory reform, aligning Gambian law with international best practices and improving the operating environment for foreign investors.
Against this backdrop, Cany Jobe’s appointment appears to be a major strategic choice. Her technical, institutional and international experience is expected to help turn Gambia’s geological potential, improved data coverage and regulatory progress into concrete exploration commitments and sustainable upstream investment, positioning the country among Africa’s next generation of oil and gas producers.