Ghana has achieved a rare and historic milestone in global petroleum exploration after Cybele Energy Ltd., a wholly Ghanaian-owned company led by its President, Ms. Beatrice Mensah-Tayui, secured the licence for Shallow Water Block S7 in Guyana.
The Petroleum Agreement and accompanying Exploration Licence were signed at an official ceremony in Georgetown, marking the first time in history that an African company has been awarded an oil block in Guyana—and, by all available checks, the first time an African operator has secured such a licence anywhere in South America or the Caribbean.
This breakthrough is being celebrated across diplomatic, business and energy circles as a triumph not only for Ghana but for the African continent and for African women in global enterprise. More significantly, it represents a deepening of the rapidly expanding political and economic relations between Ghana and Guyana while advancing the wider ambition of enhanced Africa–Caribbean commercial cooperation.
Strengthening Ghana–Guyana relations
Cybele Energy’s success underscores the growing strategic bond between Accra and Georgetown.
For Guyana, which has become the world’s most dynamic oil frontier, the involvement of a credible African operator brings diversification, new investment, and strengthened South–South collaboration.
For Ghana, the achievement showcases its capacity to produce globally competitive energy companies capable of operating in complex offshore environments.
Analysts note that the development aligns with Ghana’s longstanding foreign policy of forging deeper ties with Caribbean nations, especially as both regions explore new frameworks for economic integration.
With Ghana already sharing expertise with Guyana through knowledge exchange in local content, regulation and petroleum revenue management, Cybele Energy’s entry adds new momentum to a partnership that is increasingly strategic.
3 Years of legal, technical and strategic work
Africa Legal Associates (ALA), also known as ALPí Ghana, has served as counsel to Cybele Energy since December 2022, when Guyana launched an international bidding process for 14 offshore blocks, comprising 11 shallow-water and three ultra-deepwater prospects.
Of the eight ultimately awarded after the competitive process, Cybele Energy secured Block S7—one of the most geologically promising shallow-water blocks available.
The achievement was the result of nearly three years of sustained legal, commercial and regulatory work delivered through close collaboration between ALA, its Guyana affiliate ALA Strategic Consult Guyana Ltd., and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce Guyana, both led by Mr. Stanley Armartefio Jr.
These teams provided support across bid preparation, due diligence, negotiations and regulatory engagements, culminating in the historic signing ceremony.
“Working with Ms. Mensah-Tayui and her committed team over the years has been an enriching experience, and we look forward with optimism to the next phase of exploration and development on Block S7,” said ALA Managing Partner, Ms. Nana Adjoa Hackman.
Block S7: A highly prospective offshore asset
Block S7 sits within the prolific Guyana offshore basin, positioned along the same geological fairway that hosts the world-class Liza 1 and Liza 2 discoveries and neighbouring Repsol’s Carapa-1 find.
Early technical assessments by Cybele Energy indicate strong petroleum potential.
The company’s internal evaluation suggests the block may contain substantial recoverable oil reserves and could support a major offshore development producing as much as 160,000 barrels per day from a proposed configuration of production wells supported by injection wells.
Its shallow-water location, approximately 100 kilometres offshore, makes it suitable for an onshore Early Production Facility (EPF), which would significantly reduce development costs compared to deepwater, FPSO-led operations.
Under Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement framework for shallow-water blocks, operators also benefit from a 65 percent cost-recovery provision—further enhancing the project’s commercial feasibility.
Cybele Energy has also committed to a comprehensive local content and CSR programme that includes investments in training, logistics support infrastructure, healthcare, housing and the development of offshore service capacity.
The company describes these initiatives as essential to ensuring long-term value for the people of Guyana and strengthening community–industry relations.
Africa–Caribbean energy cooperation
Diplomatic observers describe the Cybele Energy milestone as a defining moment for Africa–Caribbean cooperation.
As Guyana ascends rapidly into the ranks of the world’s major oil producers, and Ghana continues to refine its own upstream expertise from the Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa fields, both countries are increasingly positioned to learn from and support each other.
The involvement of a Ghanaian operator in Guyana’s oil sector is expected to open new doors for bilateral exchange, from petroleum regulation and local content management to capacity building and investment promotion.
It also reinforces the work of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce Guyana, which has been instrumental in encouraging Ghanaian businesses to explore opportunities in the fast-growing Guyanese economy.
As Cybele Energy advances into the exploration phase of Block S7, both Ghana and Guyana stand to benefit from a partnership rooted in shared aspirations and a vision of South–South development.
The signing of the Petroleum Agreement is not only a major national achievement for Ghana but a landmark for African enterprise and a bold new step in strengthening the bonds between two nations united by history, opportunity and ambition.
