Tullow Ghana and its partners have restarted drilling operations in the country’s flagship Jubilee Field, signalling renewed investment and confidence in one of West Africa’s most strategic oil assets.

The new two-year drilling campaign, which begins this May, is expected to boost output and operational efficiency in the offshore field that has underpinned Ghana’s oil production since it came on stream in 2010.

“This is an exciting moment for us. The restart of drilling reflects another milestone in our journey in Ghana and shows our confidence in the country’s resource base,” Jean-Médard Madama, Managing Director of Tullow Ghana said in a statement. “Even as the field matures, we are confident in its capacity to deliver value—for our shareholders, partners, and the people of Ghana.”

The company is a subsidiary of Tullow Oil Plc, whose operations are focused on its West-African producing assets in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, having divested its entire non-operated working interests in Gabon and agreed to sell its operations in Kenya to Nairobi-based Gulf Energy Ltd

The Ghana campaign follows the completion of Tullow’s previous four-year drilling programme in December 2024, which delivered 18 new wells -- six months ahead of schedule and under budget. The earlier phase was widely praised for its strong safety record, cost discipline, and operational excellence.

The new drilling plan will be implemented in phases, with the first phase starting in May 2025. Additional work is scheduled for November and will continue into 2026.

Despite declining reservoir pressures as the Jubilee Field enters a mature stage, the field remains a critical revenue source for Ghana and its partners, including US-based oil and gas firm Kosmos Energy, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and PetroSA.

“This new programme will unlock further value and ensure long-term production stability,” Tullow said in a statement.

The London- and Accra-listed oil and gas firm recently completed a 16-day maintenance campaign in the Jubilee Field to prepare infrastructure for the new drilling effort. The maintenance focused on operational upgrades and risk reduction, aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of upcoming activities.

Ghana, which began commercial oil production in 2010, has sought to position itself as a stable and attractive destination for oil and gas investment in West Africa. The Jubilee Field, located 60 kilometres offshore in deep waters, has been central to that ambition.

With the restart of drilling, energy analysts say Tullow’s move demonstrates renewed confidence in the viability of the field and signals to the market that Ghana’s offshore sector remains active despite the global energy transition.

The Jubilee Field is expected to remain a key production hub, even as Ghana looks to diversify its energy mix and ramp up renewable energy capacity in the years ahead.