Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp. has discovered an oil field in Gabon, raising hope for more energy production from West Africa.

The oil field, in the Atlantic Ocean, has up to 14 million barrels in possible reserves.

According to the US government’s Energy Information Administration, Africa as a whole had close to 115 million barrels of proven oil reserves last year.

Mitsubishi said its subsidiary, MPDC Gabon Co., has a 50% stake in the oil field, with the other half held by France's Perenco.

The company said it was putting a growing focus on finding reserves in West Africa, "one of the fastest growing and high potential oil producing areas in the world."

Mitsubishi Corp said the field, named Loche East Marine, is already producing 1,000 barrels a day.