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Gambia

Ministry of Petroleum
BertilHarding High Way,Kotu,Greater Banjul
The Gambia
Tel no:+220 880 6317
            +220 8806315
Fax: +220 820 0896
http://www.gambia.gm/index.html

CIA Factbook
Political rights and civil liberties (Freedom House)
Travel and accommodation

The contribution of mining to total exports in 2010 amounted to 15.6%

Gambia Mining News

Source: CIA Factbook


Legend
Legend and ore deposit name

Geology

A trans-Senegal-Gambian border titanium–zirconium heavy mineral sands operation, which was commissioned in 2006, was shut down in The Gambia in early 2008. Production figures for 2007 were unavailable. Total resource was estimated at 18.8 Mt containing 1 Mt of heavy minerals (71% ilmenite, 15% zircon and 3% rutile). The country did not produce any hydrocarbons and is dependent on imports of petroleum for its domestic energy requirements.

Maps and images
Natural Resources Including Petroleum Prospects (Source: Gambian Government )


The following minerals have been identified in The Gambia following some mineral exploration programmes conducted with the lead participation of the Geological Department. The Government continues to monitor research findings on the possibility for more mineral deposits, especially those with higher marketing value whilst staying mindful of conservation and environmental preservation issues. There are known deposits of:



a) Quartz Sand

Large reserves of quartz (silica) sand, suitable for glass manufacture, have been identified in the Greater Banjul Area, notably in Abuko, Brufut, Darsilami (Western Division); Mbankam and Bakendik (North Bank Division); and Kaiaf, (Lower River Division). The Government continues to seek interested investors to exploit these deposits

b) Heavy Mineral Beach Sand Deposits

The raised beach sand, which is characteristic of The Gambia's coastal beaches, contain ilmenite, rutile, and zircon. The deposits were briefly mined in the past and recently the Government is keen in attracting interested investors in exploiting the deposits.

The estimated reserves of recoverable minerals yield a conservative total of about 995,000 tonnes at a 1% cut-off grade. Further investigations will be conducted to update the reserve base of these minerals.

c) Hydro Carbon Potential

The Gambia depends on imported petroleum products. The government recognises the critical need for secure and stable supply of petroleum products and the need to stabilise prices to avoid induced inflation. The government therefore welcomes potential investors and collaborators in improving storage. In regards to petroleum prospects (hydro carbon potential), The Gambia has promising prospects and the government is relentlessly collecting, updating and storing the relevant seismic data and marketing the prospects to interested oil companies and businesses.

d) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

All liquefied petroleum gas in The Gambia is imported overland from Senegal. LPG is mostly used for domestic purposes and on a limited scale for industrial purposes. Transaction costs in importing and bottling gas have resulted in large price differentials between Senegal and The Gambia. This makes gas unaffordable to most Gambians, and hence constituting a severe limitation on the promotion of the use of LPG.

Oil and Natural Gas
  • Amerada Hess (80 percent interest) and Sterling Energy plc (20 percent) hold the rights to The Gambia's Deepwater PPL Block. The license has been issued for six years and the companies are currently finalizing interpretation studies and evaluating options for a 3D seismic data acquisition.
  • In July 2005, The Gambia awarded Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) one of The Gambia’s six oil exploration blocks. The Gambia gave the award to PNOC without tender, or a technical review of the company’s capabilities.
  • Buried Hill Energy, a Canadian company, has two licenses for the exploration and production of oil and gas in the offshore area. Buried Hill has identified five distrinct areas with 26 targets and wants to start drilling in early 2009.

Posted by Carel van der Merwe at 13.4.07