Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea have reached an agreement on the unitization of the cross-border Yoyo–Yolanda gas field, paving the way for the joint development of natural gas reserves estimated at 2,500 billion cubic feet.
Cameroon’s acting minister of mines, industry and technological development, Fuh Calistus Gentry, has been leading an official mission to Equatorial Guinea since February 1, 2026, aimed at finalizing the unitization framework for the shared offshore reservoir. The agreement establishes a common legal, technical and operational structure for exploiting the gas field, which straddles the maritime boundary between the two countries.
Unitization is a mechanism used when a single hydrocarbon reservoir extends across international borders. It allows the resource to be developed as one field under harmonized rules, preventing competitive drilling, avoiding reservoir damage and ensuring an agreed allocation of production between the states involved.
Under the terms of the agreement, joint technical studies have determined an 84%–16% split of the reserves, with 84% allocated to Cameroon’s Yoyo block and 16% to Equatorial Guinea’s Yolanda block. The development plan is centered on the Yoyo field, which will host the main production infrastructure.
The plan provides for the installation of a gas processing platform within the Yoyo production-sharing contract area, with processed gas expected to be transported through existing or planned infrastructure for commercialization. The centralized approach is designed to optimize costs, accelerate development timelines and improve the overall economic viability of the project.
The Yoyo–Yolanda unitization deal is seen as a strategic step in strengthening energy cooperation between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, both of which are seeking to maximize offshore gas resources amid growing regional and global demand for natural gas. For Cameroon, the project aligns with broader efforts to boost domestic gas production and support industrial development, while Equatorial Guinea aims to sustain output from mature offshore assets through cross-border collaboration.
Officials say the agreement also reinforces adherence to international best practices in cross-border resource management and sets a precedent for future joint energy projects in the Gulf of Guinea.
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