French Guiana

Investment & Operational Criteria

Key Indicators
‍

Risk Premia
‍

5.750

Outlook
‍

Neutral

Rating
‍

DDD|5S|±

Ranking
‍

115

Reserves (1P)
‍

Total
‍

mm boe

Oil
‍

Summary

While French Guiana has a different outlook on O&G exploration from mainland France, French law, including the ban on new licences, applies, and Paris retains control of key legislation. Interest has been revived by discoveries in neighbouring Suriname and Guyana. Outlook maintained because French law continues to constrain access despite regional prospectivity. Outlook: Neutral. Risk premia unchanged at 5.75%.

Updated

October 7, 2026

Country Basics

Region

Americas - South

Reserves (1P)
‍

Oil
‍

mm bbl

Gas
‍

bcf

Location

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname.

Outline

Tax Regime
Type

Concession

Tax Regime
Notes

French Guiana’s upstream fiscal system is a very simple Concession regime, with only royalty (for onshore fields only) and corporate income tax payable.

Investment &
Operational
Climate

French Guiana is an overseas region of France and part of the EU, subject to French law and EU regulation. It hosts the European Space Agency's Kourou spaceport. Social unrest and illegal gold mining are periodic issues. Offshore exploration ended after unsuccessful drilling in 2019, and French law now bans new hydrocarbon exploration.

Source: ESRI, Heritage Index, HMG Foreign & Commonwealth Office, US Department of State, International Trade Administration, International Law Review, Ernst & Young, Wood Makenzie & OGA data.