Page 16 - AfrOil Week 42 2022

AfrOil NEWS IN BRIEF AfrOil

Sasol, listed in New York and Johannesburg, is Moktar permit Initial Period had been extended appropriate, in due course.
the world’s top producer of chemicals and fuels by 24-months such that the Initial Period, as Commenting, Graham Lyon (Executive
from coal while ArcelorMittal, also traded in extended, was to end by October 9, 2022. The Chairman) said: “Our ongoing licence activities
Johannesburg, is Africa’s top steelmaker. Their Amendment resulted from the Company and at both the Sidi Moktar and Grand Tendrara
operations have a substantial carbon footprint Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures permits are subject to an active and construc-
and both are transitioning to cleaner energies. et des Mines (ONHYM) declaring an event of tive dialogue with ONHYM and the Ministry
“These potential projects are an important force majeure during the Initial Period due to of Energy Transition and Sustainable Devel-
kick-start to our decarbonisation journey and continued disruption caused by the impact of opment, however, principally due to COVID-
create an exciting opportunity to contribute to the COVID-19 pandemic. 19, the last couple of years has restricted active
the South African government’s aspirations to Notwithstanding the Initial Period having licence activity that can be safely and efficiently
transition to a green economy,” said ArcelorMit- ended prior to the work commitments thereun- undertaken in country either for onshore explo-
tal’s CEO Kobus Verster. der having been completed, the Company has ration geophysical surveying activities given sig-
bna/IntelliNews, October 19 2022 been and remains in regular dialogue with the nificant crew numbers required and also limited
regulatory authorities and ONHYM in order the ability to drill given the over pressured nature
that the Company may reach a solution to com- of the subsalt TAGI reservoir with its inherent
PROJECTS & COMPANIES plete the committed work programme following need for significant and uninterrupted support
the ending of the Initial Period and progress the services. Having submitted our intentions to
Apex International exploration of this highly prospective basin. The ONHYM to meet our licence commitments,
work commitments for the Initial Period of the we are continuing a constructive dialogue with
Energy plans to drill 15 Sidi Moktar permits remain to acquire and pro- respect to both these permits. Independently of
cess 500 km of 2D seismic, a short well test of the these discussions, we also continue to actively
new wells in Egypt in 2023 Koba-1 well and abandonment of Koba-1 and advance our fully funded micro-LNG project
whilst also separately making progress on Pre-
Kamar-1, if required.
Apex International Energy Management, an Grand Tendrara exploration permits: The FID activities for our major pipeline develop-
independent oil and gas company focused on Grand Tendrara exploration permits cover ment project at Tendrara.”
Egypt, plans to drill 15 new wells in the country approximately 14,411 square km in Eastern Sound Energy, October 20 2022
in 2023 to take advantage of the promising out- Morocco and, following completion of the ini-
look there, media sources reported. tial period of 4 years within the total duration PetroNor secures
Apex has held a 100% operating interest in of 8 years commencing on or about October 1,
the Southeast Meleiha Exploration oil conces- 2018, the Company reports that it has submitted, extension of longstop
sion in the Western Desert since 2016, with pro- having completed the necessary work commit-
duction commencing in the summer of 2021. ments during the Grand Tendrara initial period, date for A4 Licence
It currently has an average output of more than an application to ONHYM to enter the optional
8,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil from three first extension period consisting of 2 years. offshore the Gambia
newly discovered fields. The work commitment for the first extension
Apex is owned by private investors led by period comprises the drilling one exploration PetroNor E&P has provided an update regarding
Bluewater, a specialist international private well with a Triassic objective. The Company its A4 License option in The Gambia.
equity firm focused on the middle-market expects to fulfil this commitment by the planned On October 19, 2021, PetroNor announced
energy sector. subsalt drilling opportunities within the Trias that it had received, from the Government of The
bna/IntelliNews, October 20 2022 Argilo-Gréseux Inférieur (TAGI) gas reservoir Gambia, a one-year extension to the Longstop
as announced by the Company on August 9, date of the Licence option until October 19, 2022
Sound Energy provides 2022. The TAGI is the proven reservoir of the to enable the Company to progress its ongoing
TE-5 Horst gas accumulation within the Ten-
discussions with potential partners.
update on Sidi Moktar drara Production Concession currently under Following positive discussions with the Gov-
development. On entry to the first extension ernment, PetroNor has received an additional
and Grand Tendrara period the company is required to relinquish a 30-day extension to the Longstop date of the A4
portion of the permitted acreage. The currently Licence option in order to provide time for final-
exploration permits proposed retained area includes all Company isation of plans regarding the future of the A4
recognised prospectivity.
Licence. The Company looks forward to provid-
Sound Energy, the transition energy company, The Company confirms that the commit- ing an update within this time frame.
has provided an update regarding its exploration ment to drill two exploration wells with Trias- PetroNor, October 19 2022
permits at Sidi Moktar and Grand Tendrara, sic objectives during the Grand Tendrara initial
onshore Morocco. period were historically fulfilled, and approved
Sidi Moktar exploration permits: The Sidi by ONHYM as such, by the drilling of TE-9 and
Moktar exploration permits cover approxi- TE-10. The Company has therefore been able to
mately 4,712 square km in Southern Morocco make application for the first extension period of
with an initial period, as previously extended, the Grand Tendrara exploration permits.
of 4 years and 6 months within the total dura- Both the Sidi Moktar and Grand Tendrara
tion of 10 years commencing on or about 9 April permits are subject to an active and construc-
2018. The prior extension to the Initial Period tive dialogue with ONHYM and the Ministry
was announced by the Company on October of Energy Transition and Sustainable Develop-
13, 2020, when it was confirmed that the Sidi ment. Further announcements will be made, as

P16 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 42 20•October•2022