Parlym has reached a new milestone on the Yoyo-Yolanda gas project, having been selected to carry out engineering studies for the cross-border field, according to the 2024 annual report of Cameroon’s National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH). The field is being jointly developed by Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
The award comes as the project gains momentum on technical, legal and operational fronts. SNH plans to set up a dedicated team to oversee the studies once they begin.
Parlym has been tasked with conducting the engineering work needed to develop the Yoyo-Yolanda gas field. The studies will help define the most suitable technical solutions for gas production, as well as the infrastructure required for processing and utilization. Sources say this phase could last around six months.
This stage is critical for the project’s future, as it will determine the development plan, technology choices, installation requirements, as well as cost and timeline estimates. For a cross-border gas project of this scale, engineering studies are a prerequisite before moving to execution.
The project saw a major diplomatic step forward earlier in 2026. On Feb. 1, a visit to Equatorial Guinea by Cameroon’s interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Fuh Calistus Gentry, helped advance talks toward signing a unitization agreement for the field. The agreement is a key step toward joint development of the reservoir, which is estimated to hold 2.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The planned development includes a processing platform within the Yoyo production sharing contract area and the drilling of three wells. The unitization agreement is also expected to set the framework for drilling operations by operators on both sides of the maritime border, a source said.
Chevron has been appointed operator of the project, with total investment estimated at $4 billion. Awarding the engineering studies to Parlym marks tangible progress in the project’s development, although uncertainty remains over the timeline for the start of work.
Amina Malloum
