Guinea-Bissau strengthens energy sector leadership amid growing upstream momentum

Julio Mamadù Baldé has been appointed as Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Natural Resources in a clear shift toward an experienced, technically grounded leadership in the country’s extractive sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) said in a media statement on April 10.

Guinea-Bissau, one of Africa’s least developed hydrocarbon markets, is advancing its energy sector development with new exploration efforts and institutional reforms to support future growth as an emerging player in the MSGBC region.

Baldé is a qualified water resources engineer and former head of the Hydrological Department at the Ministry of Natural Resources, as well as the secretary general of the Agence de Gestion et de Coopération (AGC). He brings nearly two decades of experience, having managed joint offshore assets of Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.

“With his technical expertise and deep regional knowledge, Minister Baldé is expected to strengthen institutional capacity, improve governance frameworks and enhance investor confidence, as Guinea-Bissau continues to position itself within the MSGBC basin and wider West African energy landscape,” the AEC said.

Guinea-Bissau’s upstream sector is gaining momentum, driven by renewed exploration and improved regulatory engagement. US energy giant Chevron (NYSE:CVX) entered Blocks 5B and 6B in late 2025, with seismic work targeting deepwater prospects with multi-billion-barrel potential.

UAE-based upstream oil and gas company Apus Energy is driving the rejuvenation of offshore exploration in Guinea-Bissau, advancing the Sinapa and Esperança licences after acquiring them from West Africa-focused independent explorer PetroNor E&P (OSE:PNOR). In 2024, PetroNor E&P drilled the Atum-1X well, the country’s first offshore well in nearly 20 years, signalling renewed technical interest.

“This appointment comes at exactly the right time for Guinea-Bissau,” said AEC’s executive chairman NJ Ayuk. “With Julio Baldé at the helm, the country is bringing in a leader who understands how to translate subsurface potential into real projects, real investment and real jobs. What matters now is execution – clear rules, fast decisions and a stable environment that allows capital to flow into the MSGBC basin at scale.”

Beyond oil and gas, Guinea-Bissau is pushing ahead with a wider energy and infrastructure drive to improve electricity access, strengthen regional cooperation and reduce reliance on imported power. The government is working with partners such as the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and the UN Industrial Development Organisation to support hydropower development and modernise the grid.

Guinea-Bissau aims to raise electrification from about 45% to 80% by 2030, backed by a broader sustainable energy investment plan worth roughly $700mn.

“Supported by growing international interest and expanding institutional partnerships, the country is increasingly positioning itself as one of West Africa’s most closely watched new energy frontiers,” the AEC said.