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Ruvuma is home to the Ntorya gas field (Image: Aminex)

Work at the sites has progressed slowly because pandemic and the conflict in Libya have posed
of civil conflict in Libya, the company noted. additional significant challenges during the
It explained that WIAG had been forced to past months, NOC and WIAG are nonetheless
suspend oil production following the impo- convinced that as a result of a comprehensive
sition of a blockade on oil infrastructure in and diligent transitional process, SOO has suc-
mid-January. However, that blockade was cessfully been enabled to operate the fields in a
suspended in mid-September and then lifted reliable manner and in accordance with good
a month later, owing to the signing of a cease- oilfield practices,” it commented.
fire agreement between Benghazi-based LNA The company did not say when it expected
and the UN-backed Government of National SOO to begin regular commercial operations.
Accord (GNA), which is based in Tripoli. WIAG’s two Sirte Basin blocks lie about 1,000
This clears the way for work at Contract km south-east of Tripoli. They are home to nine
Areas 91 and 107 to proceed, Wintershall separate oilfields, the largest of which is As-Sa-
said. “Although the coronavirus [COVID-19] rah. ™

DPR says bidding round for

marginal fields is ongoing

NIGERIA NIGERIA’S Department of Petroleum Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
Resources (DPR) confirmed last week that it had The agencies also noted that DPR had
not yet wrapped up the marginal fields licensing received applications to bid in the licensing
round launched earlier this year. round, which was only open to Nigerian com-
Paul Osu, the head of DPR’s public affairs panies, from more than 500 entities. At least 100
department, explained that the process of bid- of these potential investors have now completed
ding for the 57 sites involved in the heavily the process of submitting an offer in the auctions
subscribed auctions was not yet complete. “The after being pre-qualified to bid, they said.
2020 marginal oilfield bid round process is still Osu confirmed that many Nigerian firms had
ongoing, in line with our published timelines on expressed interest in bidding for one or more
DPR website and bid portal,” he told the News marginal fields and said that DPR was working
Agency of Nigeria (NAN). to ensure that all participants were capable of
He was responding to reports from the local upholding their commitments. “Over 600 com-
press that DPR had already finished reviewing panies have applied to be prequalified for the
the bids received by September 15 and would bid rounds, which began on June 1,” he stated,
reveal the results of the contest soon. Nigerian according to NAN. “However, the DPR had put
news agencies said last week that the depart- measures in place to ensure that the awardees
ment intended to reveal the outcome once it had would be credible investors with technical and
secured approval from Timipre Sylva, Nigeria’s financial capability.”

Week 44 04•November•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P13