Gambian president appoints Cany Jobe to lead petroleum regulator

Cany Jobe, an experienced oil and gas industry executive, has been appointed by Gambian President Adama Barrow as the new Director General of the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia.

Jobe’s appointment comes as the Gambia accelerates hydrocarbon sector reforms to position itself as one of West Africa’s most attractive frontier exploration destinations, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) said in a press statement on January 13.

Jobe brings nearly 18 years of international oil and gas experience to the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia. She holds engineering and international project management master’s degrees and previously led exploration and production (E&P) at the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation. Her career includes regional and international roles with China Petroleum Corporation, Venezuela’s PDVSA and the ECOWAS Commission. According to the AEC, Jobe’s appointment signals the Gambia’s intent to attract global exploration investment and take its place among West Africa’s emerging producers.

Her appointment comes at a critical point in The Gambia’s energy development. The country sits within the MSGBC Basin and offers several advantages for frontier oil and gas exploration, including prospective acreage, expanding seismic data coverage, favourable geology and improving regulation. Despite this, The Gambia has yet to make a commercial oil discovery, largely owing to limited investment rather than a lack of resources. Recent policy and market developments aim to change this, says the AEC.

The government is actively opening the upstream sector to international explorers. More than eight offshore blocks and two onshore blocks are currently available, making The Gambia one of the most accessible frontier markets in West Africa. Around 80% of offshore seismic and geological data has already been collected, reducing exploration risk and allowing companies to move more quickly towards investment decisions.

The country’s location within the MSGBC Basin further enhances investors’ appeal. The basin has delivered major discoveries in neighbouring states, including the Sangomar oilfield offshore Senegal and the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim development shared between Senegal and Mauritania. Similar geology suggests comparable potential in Gambian waters.

The Gambia is also advancing regulatory reform as part of its upstream strategy. A new Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Bill is being finalised to improve transparency, efficiency and investor confidence. Against this backdrop, the Chamber says, Jobe’s appointment becomes increasingly strategic, providing experienced leadership to convert geological promise, improved data and regulatory reform into concrete exploration activity and sustained upstream investment.

“Cany Jobe brings the right mix of technical expertise, international experience and strategic vision to position The Gambia as a competitive upstream destination,” says AEC’s Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk. “Her leadership will be instrumental in promoting the country’s acreage, engaging investors and ensuring that The Gambia fully capitalises on its location in the MSGBC Basin. This appointment demonstrates the government’s seriousness about attracting investment and building a world-class petroleum sector.”