Kingston, Jamaica — Saturday 7 February 2026
More than four decades after Jamaica’s last oil well was drilled, the country’s offshore petroleum potential is back under examination, as new seabed sampling seeks to determine whether long-standing geological indicators point to an active offshore system. While the work stops well short of drilling, its implications extend beyond energy, raising questions about land use planning, national development priorities, and long-term economic security.
The renewed focus centres on offshore survey activity south of the island, where United Oil & Gas has begun shallow seabed coring within the Walton Morant licence area. The programme is designed to test for traces of hydrocarbons in surface sediments — a relatively low-impact method aimed at reducing geological uncertainty rather than proving commercial volumes.
A long trail of evidence, revisited
Jamaica’s oil story has never been one of absence, but of ambiguity. Since exploration began in the mid-20…
