LE BRIEF

Gabon: BW Energy secures US$208 million for the Bourdon offshore platform

LE BRIEF • 2026-10-14

A lease agreement with Minsheng Financial Leasing finances the Akoum platform. First production at Bourdon is expected in early 2028; the financing is separate from the investment decision announced in May.

LE BRIEF, Wednesday 14 October 2026: Africa and Gulf special edition Country : Gabon Source publication : 13 October 2026 Event : Financing announcement on 13 October 2026 BW Energy signage: supplied photograph. It illustrates the company, not the Akoum platform or the BW Adolo production vessel. Oil group BW Energy has secured US$208 million, approximately CFA 117 billion, to develop the Akoum platform for the offshore Bourdon oil field on the Dussafu Marin licence in Gabon. A lease financing the platform’s full investment cost The transaction was concluded with Minsheng Financial Leasing as a lease agreement covering the platform’s full investment cost. The installation will be converted from the former Jasmine Alpha drilling unit. It will have twelve well slots to support the first production phase and prepare for possible expansions. The contract has a firm eight-year term, with an option to extend it by a further four years. First production from Bourdon is expected in the first quarter of 2028. A credit facility extended until 2028 BW Energy has also obtained an eighteen-month extension to its US$250 million revolving credit facility with DNB Bank, which now matures in August 2028. Development of the field involves BW Energy, Panoro Energy and Gabon Oil Company, with respective interests of 73.5%, 17.5% and 9%. For Gabon, the transaction helps secure the investment need...