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Africa Energy announces

Odfjell rig mobilisation
for Block 11B/12B

offshore South Africa

Africa Energy has announced that the Odfjell
Deepsea Stavanger semi-submersible rig has
departed Bergen, Norway for South Africa to
commence the upcoming multi-well drilling
programme on Block 11B/12B.
Garrett Soden, the Company’s President and Eliewinga and Oryx’s representative August and Europe is heavily restraining the oil and gas
CEO, said: “We are excited to begin the next Dominick were arrested for questioning and industry’s recovery efforts. Because of its inter-
phase of exploration drilling on Block 11B/12B taken into custody while attending a consultative national nature, the oil and gas sector relies on
offshore South Africa. The Odfjell rig is mobi- meeting between oil marketers and the Energy global value-chains and successful cooperation
lising from Norway to South Africa in order to and Water Regulatory Authority (EWURA) in and movement of people, goods and services
spud the Luiperd-1 well by September. Luiperd Dar es Salaam. between foreign and local contractors. The
is the largest prospect in the Paddavissie Fairway The African Energy Chamber is calling for ongoing travel bans and restrictions of visa issu-
and has been de-risked by the nearby Brulpadda the respect of the rule of law and asking that ance are de facto preventing a lot of projects to
discovery and subsequent 3D seismic work.” they be afforded all due processes as required by move forward and to successfully contribute to
Deepsea Stavanger drilled the basin-open- Tanzanian law. Given how critical these times the recovery of the continent.
ing Brulpadda oil and gas discovery on Block are the ongoing economic crisis across the con- Major international oil companies such as
11B/12B in February 2019. Block 11B/12B is tinent because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Total, BP, Shell, Eni, ExxonMobil, Chevron or
located in the Outeniqua Basin 175 km off the Chamber is hoping for a quick and amicable res- Equinor and independents such as Kosmos
southern coast of South Africa. The block covers olution to such disagreements that are detrimen- Energy, BW Energy, Maurel & Prom or Tullow
an area of approximately 19,000 square km with tal to Tanzanian citizens. Oil that operate a major share of Africa’s daily
water depths ranging from 200 to 1,800 metres. “We hope that any ongoing disagreement oil and gas production are currently unable to
The Paddavissie Fairway in the southwest corner between oil marketers and the Tanzanian gov- operate fully and safely because of such travel
of the block includes the Brulpadda discovery, ernment will be quickly resolved so everyone restrictions. Similarly, they directly impact the
as well as several large submarine fan prospects can get back to business and to providing ser- operations of the major international services
that have been significantly de-risked by the dis- vices to Tanzanian consumers. The Chamber and EPC companies supposed to work on major
covery and subsequent 3D seismic acquisition. has repeatedly applauded Tanzania for its strike projects, such as Saipem, TechnipFMC, Schlum-
Africa Energy holds 49% of the shares in in discovering significant gas resources. With berger or Halliburton.
Main Street 1549 Proprietary, which has a 10% the right infrastructure, Tanzania’s natural “We cannot base our recovery narrative and
participating interest in Block 11B/12B. Total resources could transform the country into an hopes on the oil & gas sector and at the same
E&P South Africa is operator and has a 45% oasis of energy growth. We do not want to see time forbid the movement and travel of the
participating interest in Block 11B/12B, while such isolated incidents affect the attractiveness of workers and employees supposed to make that
Qatar Petroleum International Upstream and the country for foreign investors and ultimately recovery happen,” declared NJ Ayuk, Executive
CNR International (South Africa) have 25% and affect the its energy independence and slow Chairman at the African Energy Chamber. “We
20% participating interests, respectively, in Block down jobs creation,” declared NJ Ayuk, Execu- are urgently calling for pragmatism and the
11B/12B. tive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber. adoption of realistic measures that put workers’
Africa Energy, July 05 2020 The Chamber will remain open to assisting all safety and economic recovery at the center of
parties in reaching an amicable solution to ongo- public and travel policies priorities,” he added.
POLICY ing disagreements and calls on all stakeholders From West to Southern Africa, landmark
to promote a stronger dialogue on ongoing mat- energy projects worth billions of dollars have
African Energy Chamber ters of fuel supply across Tanzania. been delayed because of the ongoing pandemic
of COVID-19 and its subsequent lockdowns
African Energy Chamber, July 06 2020
hopes for a quick resolution African Energy Chamber: and travel restrictions. However, and as econ-
omies gradually reopen, a new wave of travel
of disagreements over fuel Travel bans impede oil restrictions, especially on the issuance of visas
between Europe and Africa, is adding up to the
shortages in Tanzania list of challenges the industry faces to play its key
role in the continent’s economic recovery. Such
The African Energy Chamber expresses its con- and gas sector’s ability to restrictions are threatening the efficient opera-
cerns over the alleged arrest and detention of support African recovery tions of global value-chains whose functioning is
three energy executives in Tanzania last week. critical to enable Africa’s energy projects to move
Total Tanzania’s Managing Director Jean-Fran- The continuation of travel restrictions and forward.
cois Schoepp, Puma Supply Manager Adam suspension of visas and travel between Africa African Energy Chamber, July 02 2020

Week 27 08•July•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P19