By: The Africa report

A Ghanaian independent energy company has broken new ground by becoming the first African firm to secure an offshore oil block in Guyana. Cybele Energy, led by founder and CEO Beatrice Mensah-Tayui, signed a production-sharing agreement with the Guyanese government for shallow-water Block S7, marking a historic entry for an African—and woman-led—operator into one of the world’s most dynamic petroleum basins.

The agreement, which includes a $17 million signing bonus and standard fiscal terms, grants Cybele exploration rights in a block preliminarily estimated to hold up to 400 million barrels of recoverable oil. The company plans to begin exploration activities by the end of 2026, pending regulatory and environmental approvals.

Mensah-Tayui emphasized that Cybele’s approach is rooted in discipline, efficiency, and respect for regulatory standards. She praised Guyana’s government as “one of the most efficient” she has encountered and stressed that African companies must operate globally on merit, without expecting special treatment. “Do business in the way you would do it anywhere globally,” she stated.

The landmark deal not only diversifies Guyana’s operator base beyond international supermajors but also redefines the potential of African energy firms on the world stage. For Mensah-Tayui, it signals that African companies—and women-led enterprises—can compete and excel in high-stakes international markets by adhering to accountability, professionalism, and rigorous execution.