Zanzibar announces new blocks for Oil, Gas exploration
ISLES Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries Mr Suleiman Masoud Makame, on Monday, officially announced the opening of a new phase for exploration to promote oil and gas opportunities through international bid rounds.
At a press conference he convened in the Ministry’s building, Maisara, outskirts of the Stone Town, he informed journalists that areas to be offered form part of a five-year exploration road map, to be launched in the upcoming Zanzibar ‘1st Licensing round in 4th Quarter of 2023.’
The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar invites Exploration and Production companies to participate in the Zanzibar 1st Licensing Round by nominating the most attractive blocks before the official bid round opening.
On 11th May 2023 the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries informed the public that the execution of the Contract between the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and Schlumberger was progressing as agreed and that the block’s demarcation exercise was expected to be complete by June 2023.
“The Ministry would like to announce that acreage evaluation and block demarcation has been finalised. These blocks are located offshore areas of Zanzibar on the east sides of the Unguja and Pemba Islands,” Mr Makame said.
In accordance with the Section 34 of the Oil and Gas (Upstream) Act, 2016, the Minister responsible for the petroleum activities shall announce the opening of the new areas before the commencement of the exploration activities in Zanzibar.
The Minister commended President Hussein Mwinyi for being behind the achievements so far in the oil and gas industry.
“Under his astute leadership, Zanzibar is continuing to be the epicentre of the investments which in turn they build a strong and resilient economy for the benefit of Zanzibar,” he explained.
Mr Makame assured the Exploration and Production companies and investors that doors are open for comments and feedback, and also engagement with the regulator, the Zanzibar Petroleum Regulatory Authority (ZPRA) and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries.
Both Managing director of Zanzibar Petroleum Development Company Mr Mikidadi Alli Rashid and his Zanzibar Petroleum Regulatory Authority (ZPRA) counterpart Mr Adam Abdulla Makame promised to work closely with investors to develop the Oil and Gas industry.
The new era in the development of the oil and gas sector of Zanzibar was initiated in 2011 when the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and the Government of Ras al Khaimah embarked on a joint effort with respect to bilateral cooperation that included the petroleum subsector.
The first Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with RAKGAS Company of Ras al Khaimah was signed 23rd October 2018 for the Pemba – Zanzibar Block to undertake Oil and Gas exploration.
The exploration activities conducted under this PSA are ‘Full Tensor Gravity Survey (FTG)’, conducted on 14th March, 2017 in Pemba-Zanzibar Block. Rak Gas Company from Ras al Khaimah – United Arab Emirates contracted BELL GEOSPACE company to conduct the survey. FTG exercise took around 6 weeks to cover the exploration area.
