Page 14 - AfrOil Week 12 2023

AfrOil PROJECTS & COMPANIES AfrOil

The partners operate an LNG plant that was developed by its shareholders – including Blocks
built using a proprietary liquefaction process 14, 15, 17 and 18 – and natural gas from offshore
developed by ConocoPhillips (US), one of the sites such as Atum, Enguia, Polvo and Quiluma.
original shareholders in the project. The facility Interest in Angola LNG’s production has
has been in operation since 2013 and produces risen considerably since the outbreak of war
LPG and condensate as well as LNG. It processes in Ukraine triggered a declined in Russian gas
associated gas from oilfields at offshore sites deliveries to Europe. ™

Environmental Authorisation sought

for exploration work at Block 3B/4B

SOUTH AFRICA CANADA’S Africa Oil Corp. has applied to the EIMS team and the JV partnership are working
South African government for Environmental closely on seeking Environmental Authorisation
Authorisation to conduct exploration work at to permit and drill these promising and signifi-
Block 3B/4B, a licence area in the Orange Basin cant opportunities for South Africa in the now
off the Northern Cape/South-West Coast area. proven Orange Basin. We successfully met with
In a statement dated March 21, UK-based regional stakeholders, received their approval
Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas, a non-operating and recently drilled a safe exploration well on
partner in the project, said that the application Block 2B. During this project, we proved our
covered the decision to contract Environmental capacity to protect regional culture and the
Impact Management Services (EIMS) of South environment and safely steward exploration
Africa for various types of work at Block 3B/4B. for South Africa’s own much needed energy. In
EIMS is on track to apply for a permit to drill parallel to the research related to our reports and
one commitment well and one contingent well, the application for authorisation, we will again
with the potential for up to five wells, within an directly engage with regional stakeholders and
area of interest in the northern section of the communities as we look to do our part for the
block, Eco Atlantic said. Additionally, the con- South African energy solution.”
tractor will conduct the required environmental Block 3B/4B is a 17,581-square km site
impact assessment (EIA) of the licence area, it within the Orange basin off the western coast
noted. of South Africa, around 180 km from shore, in
Eco Atlantic did not say when it expected to waters averaging around 1,000 metres in depth.
learn whether the Environmental Authorisa- Equity in the project is split between Africa Oil
tion application had been approved. However, Corp. (Canada), the operator, with 20%; Rico-
Colin Kinley, the company’s co-founder and cure Pty Ltd (South Africa), with 53.75%; and
COO, described the prospect as an important Azinam South Africa, a subsidiary of Eco Atlan-
opportunity. tic, with 26.25%. ™
“We are excited about 3B/4B and the inven-
tory prospective resource targets on the block
as recently announced in the Operator’s Com-
petent Persons Report,” he commented. “This
creates an outstanding resource exploration and
development opportunity for the joint venture
partnership and South Africa.”
Kinley went on to say that Eco Atlantic would
work to minimise the environmental impact of
the project and collaborate closely with com-
munities that might be affected by exploration
activity. The company is keen to optimise bene-
fits for local stakeholders and contribute to the
resolution of South Africa’s energy supply dif-
ficulties, while also engaging in hydrocarbon
exploration and development operations, he
stated.
“Understanding the latest research and
information [on] changing natural patterns of
the environment and the use and effects that
we have on the sea and its natural state is key
to successful exploration,” Kinley said. “The Block 3B/4B is offshore South Africa in the Orange basin (Image: Africa Oil Corp.)

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