Mozambique Oil & Gas: 5th tender for hydrocarbon exploration closed yesterday

Proposals to the 5th international tender for concession of hydrocarbon research and production areas in Mozambique closes at Midday on Thursday, the Mozambique National Oil Institute said in Maputo. This tender, launched simultaneously in Maputo and London on 23 October 2014, includes offshore areas, three in the Rovuma basin, two in Angoche and six in the Zambezi delta and onshore areas, three in Pande/Temane and Palmeiras, which altogether cover an area of 76,802 square kilometres.

The National Oil Institute made information available to potential candidates that had been gathered over the last few years by both public and private entities as well as oil companies hired by the State for that purpose.

Before the launch of this tender, the National Oil Institute was under pressure from several international groups, encouraged by gas discoveries in the Rovuma basin, which requested new programmes to grant research areas, according to Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias.

The Rovuma basin has been the scene of major discoveries (200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas) in recent years, exploration of which, according to the established program, could make Mozambique the third largest natural gas exporter in the world.

In turn, the Mozambique sedimentary basin has already seen remarkable discoveries in Pande/Temane, where South African group Sasol already operates, and the gas and light oil in Inhassoro has yet to be asessed.

Further south, in the Palmeira region, research work was carried out during the colonial period, but it is believed that with the use of modern technologies new conclusions can be reached about the potential of the area. (macauhub/MZ)