Senegal has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italian energy giant ENI to conduct technical studies on five offshore oil and gas blocks, the country's energy minister announced on Tuesday. The deal comes days after Dakar unveiled plans to offer 109 oil and gas blocks to foreign and local investors, with state oil company Petrosen (Senegal's national petroleum firm) set to play a central role in developing the country's sedimentary basin. The agreement signals growing momentum in Senegal's energy ambitions following offshore oil and gas discoveries in 2014 that raised expectations of billions of dollars in revenue for the West African nation.