The negotiation process with the companies that were awarded the 5th international tender for oil and gas research areas in Mozambique is expected to be completed within three to four months, announced in Maputo the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Leticia Klemens.

The minister was speaking during the Mozambique Gas Summit, an event organised in partnership with Mozambican state oil and gas company ENH, which from Wednesday until Friday, brings together oil and gas companies, equipment suppliers, insurance companies, and banks, among other entities with interest in this area.

The results of the tender were announced at the end of 2015, with ExxonMobil E&P Mozambique Offshore Ltd planning to search for hydrocarbons in the A5-B area of the Angoche region and in areas A5 and A5-C-D of the Zambezi region.

A consortium led by Eni Mozambique will prospect in the A5-A area of Angoche, Sasol Petroleum Mozambique Exploration will lead research in the PT5-C area of the Pande-Temane region, and Delonex Energy Ltd will work in the P2-A area of the Palmeira region.

The National Petroleum Institute (INP) estimated that planned investments in these areas will amount to about US$700 million in four years.

The representative of the INP, Augusto Macuvele, told his audience at the Mozambique Gas Summit that the government is finalising negotiations with the contractors and noted that companies specialised in seismic studies and other specialised surveys had already been hired to carry out work in the areas covered. (Macauhub/Mz)