Hydrocarbons and metalic and non metalloc minerals exploration and discoveries

[Geza Ulole]

Production starts at Ngaka coalmine Send to a friend
Monday, 17 September 2012 09:27


Mbinga East MP Gaudence Kayombo explains a point to the Tancoal Board chairman, Mr Graema Robertson (left), during a tour of Ngaka coalmine in Mbinga at the weekend. Mr Robertson and Mr Kayombo were on site to witness the discovery of the coal bed at the mine. PHOTO |THE CITIZEN CORRESPONDENT

By The Citizen Correspondent
Mbinga. The power availability in the country is set to go up following commencement of production at the Ngaka coalmine in Mbinga District.

The coal from Ngaka will be used to generate about 240MW by 2015 and will also provide cheaper fuel to cement, lime and gypsum producers who have been relying on imported coal from South Africa.

The coalmine, located in Ruvuma Region, will initially be producing about 30 tonnes of coal per month but at full capacity, it would produce about 5 million tonnes annually, an amount that would meet the country’s annual demands of 250,000 tonnes. About 2 million of the coal would be exported.

At a proven reserve base of 212 million tonnes, the resources are enough to last for 50 years.
Tancoal board chairman, Mr Graema Robertson, said here at the weekend that availability of coal would reduce operational costs Tanzanian industries incur.

“This coal project has come at the right time when most industries want alternative energy to boost production,” he said, noting that the discovery of coal bed methane was promising.

Tancoal is the company that manages the mine, a joint venture between the National Development Corporation (NDC) and Chinese investors. The Ngaka Coal Project is Tancoal’s flagship project.

According to Mr Robertson, coal bed methane used commonly in the world today was the competitor to gas in relation to coal and the drilling of the first unconventional drill in Tanzania.

“Apart from producing coal, Tancoal is set to build a power generating station to produce 240mw by 2015. The electricity will be pumped into the national power grid,” he said.

The board chairman, who was on a tour of the mine together with the NDC managing director, Mr Gideon Nasari, and Mbinga East MP, Mr Gaudence Kayombo said the power project would be very significant, not only to Mbinga residents, but to both urban and rural Songea residents as well, who had for ages been waiting for electricity to better their lives.

“We are working closely with the NDC on the discovery of coal bed methane at the Ngaka mine to ensure the gas to be produced benefits Tanzania as a whole,” he said.

Coal mining commenced at Ngaka in August 2011, with initial mining conducted by a simple, low cost “truck and shovel” operation, and selling up to 250,000 tonnes per annum of unwashed coal to domestic customers.

The search for coal in Ngaka basin, which involves Mbuyura, Mbalawala and Mkapa started in earnest way back in 1949, under the English Colonial Development Corporation (CDC).

After independence, the government stepped up the search for coal in the area and currently, various companies are involved in the project, including Tancoal Energy Ltd, a National Development Company (NDC) and Intra Energy from Australia.

“I am very happy to say that since the project started in 2006, considerable progress has been made and now we are further witnessing discovery of natural gas,” Mr Kayombo said.

He said the project has a multiplier effect on people, including numerous direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Mr Kayombo called on the government to start preparing Tanzanians to work in mines so as to lessen the need for foreign expertise.

Speaking at the same occasion, Mr Nasari said the NDC had accomplished the opening of the first coalmine project of Ngaka, which was very rich in coal and hence likely to speed up the country’s economic growth.

“Many industries now get coal locally instead of importing it from South Africa where they were buying at $250 per tonne for it costs half that when they buy it here,” Mr Nasari explained.

He said the coal from Ngaka is also sold to Malawi where it is used in drying tea.
“We are now discussing with Tanesco to ensure the project also produces power,” he said.
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/-/2...ngaka-coalmine

[bravo zero one]

mmeona Zitto anavyotafuta attention?

[Geza Ulole]

Tanzania should emulate Norway oil success
Sunday, 23 September 2012 14:13 Kenan Kalagho
DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA-The country has been asked to learn how to manage Gas and Oil resources so that it can benefit the majority of Tanzanians.
Speaking in Dar es es salaam last week during a meeting that was organized by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the Statoil Norway based company Chief Executive Officer Mr. Arve Johnsen said that there was need for Tanzania to come up with policies for the oil and gas sector if the entire country is to benefit from the resources.
He said that the elements and good policies for these natural resources that the country is endowed with were the best practice for a country to move its economy forward and attain its development for both the private and public sector noting that it is only if the government is fully involved in the process it can shuch development be realized.
"The government is likely to be successful if good policies can be put in place and make sure that the state introduces an operational mining company that will help to oversee the production process and make sure that timely information is released when needed" Mr. Johnsen said.
He noted that Norway, with 50 years experience in both mining and exploration processes, has much to share with the country in order for it to learn how the state can raise the capital in order to be part of the exploration and production of oil and gas resources.
"There is need for the country to know about who will own the pipelines, production process and whether to involve one company or number of them in the whole process.”
He added that due to lack of capital, Norway had to used the reserve it had as a source of capital for the government to have a share in the gas and oil production processes.
He said that there was need for the government to start being involved in the whole processes of production noting that the country should not hesitate to be involved in the process as that would mean it stans a better chance economically as there were a lot of profit in the gas and oil sectors.
He underscored that with Norway experiences in whiche there are three companies that were operating in the oil and gas exploration. One wis wholly owned by the government while the other is 50% owned by the government and the third company is wholly owned by the private sector.
The Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Mr. Eliakim Maswi told East African Business Week that, it was the right time for the country to have these seminars on gas, oil and other exploration companies even before the policies were put into place.
He said, it was important that with the drafting of the gas and oil policies, the government will be able to make inclusions on lessons from Norway so that the oil and gas should benefit the majority of Tanzanians.
"I never knew that in a country like Norway, they had policies that would first benefit the Norwegians before anyone else and that is a good policy that we also need to emulate from them," the Ps said.
He said that with the discovery of 33 trillion barrels of gas in Tanzania it was important for a country to look for expatriates from overseas with experience in the sector and see how best we can learn to manage the resources so as to benefit the majority of Tanzanians especially now that we are exploring these resources for business.
The Ps also concurred with the Statoil CEO Mr. Johnsen by saying it was important for the government to have the ownership of these resources to make sure that these resources benefit citizens in the country.
Concerning whether the country was prepared in terms of the expertise to manage these gas and oil resources, the Ps said that the country has already introduced such trainings in the country and currently there were 10 students being trained at the University of Dodoma in Tanzania while several others from TPDC and the Ministry were oversees receiving similar trainings.
Tanzania hasn't had gas and oil policies since 1952 when the first prospects for exploration started and is expected to start drafting such polices next week.
http://www.busiweek.com/news/tanzani...y-oil-success-

[Geza Ulole]

Print | Close this window

Petra Diamonds forecasts 30 pct growth in annual production
Mon Sep 24, 2012 6:57am GMT
Sept 24 (Reuters) - South Africa-focused Petra Diamonds Ltd said it expected production in the year ending next June to grow by about 30 percent, helped by contribution from its Finsch and Williamson mines and higher output at its Kimberley Underground mines.

The diamond miner said profit from mining activity rose 35 percent to $103.3 million in the year ended June 30. Production nearly doubled, mainly due to the contribution from Finsch -- South Africa's second-biggest diamond operation.

Petra, which has interests in seven operating mines in South Africa and one in Tanzania, expects to produce 2.85 million carats in fiscal 2013.

Its plans to ramp up production to 5 million carats by fiscal 2019 were on target, the company said.

Shares in the company closed at 109.7 pence on the London Stock Exchange on Friday.

© Thomson Reuters 2012. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world.

Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
http://af.reuters.com/articlePrint?a...8KO4JA20120924

[Geza Ulole]

August 28, 2012
Survey Shows Lake Tanganyika’s Oil ‘Potential’ in Tanzania
by Nick Long
KINSHASA — An Australian company exploring for oil on the Tanzanian side of Lake Tanganyika says it may target potential areas for drilling in about six months’ time. The company, Beach Energy, says the lake has the potential for large discoveries and there are clear signs of a working petroleum system on the Congolese side.

Beach Energy has an exploration license for the southern half of Tanzania’s share of Lake Tanganyika. In June the company started a seismic survey, which is now nearly complete. Beach Energy’s spokesman Chris Jamieson says they are very excited by their findings.

"The quality of the data we are getting is excellent," he said. "What we are seeing is some interesting structures that might contain oil and gas. Our geophysicists are looking at it and going ‘Wow, that looks fantastic and it’s everything we were hoping for.'"

Beach Energy says its exploration block has the potential to contain 200 million barrels of oil. But Jamieson cautions that finding and pumping that oil, at depths of up to one and a half kilometers, will take much longer than in Lake Albert to the north where production is due to start in 2014.

The next stage, he says, is identifying the areas of most interest from the data. "That process takes about six months. So it won’t be until the end of the first quarter of next year that we can say we’ve got potential targets," said the spokesman.

The area of greatest interest for oil exploration in Lake Tanganyika is probably on the Congolese side.

"There is an oil slick, a natural oil seep, that sits on the lake on the DRC side. You can actually see it on Google Earth. I think it’s the largest natural oil seep in the world. What that indicates is there’s a working petroleum system underneath the Lake," said Jamieson.

Unlike Tanzania and Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo has not issued any exploration licenses for Lake Tanganyika. In 2008 the DRC government signed a joint exploration deal with Tanzania but according to the International Crisis Group, a policy think tank, this agreement was never implemented.

Last year the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation asked permission for Beach Energy to enter the Congolese side of the lake to facilitate its exploration on the Tanzanian side. According to a diplomatic source this request has not yet been granted, but the DRC government has asked for the request to be resubmitted.

Beach Energy said getting that permission from the DRC had been an issue for the company, but it was possible to carry out its survey without entering Congolese waters.

International Crisis Group says the DRC needs to reach clearer demarcation of its borders on Lake Tanganyika and on other lakes and coastal areas before it can collaborate with its neighbors on oil exploration. But, says Crisis Group analyst Thierry Vircoulon, the DRC has not made this a priority.

"The DRC has a contentious history with its neighbors and is quite reluctant to get involved in border demarcation work. It’s also related to the fact that the DRC is late in the oil business in comparison with Uganda but also with Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania," said Vircoulon.

The DRC has oil-related border disputes with Uganda and with Angola. According to Vircoulon, about half the oil produced by Angola comes from oil blocks which the DRC officially claims are within its territorial waters. Angola has offered Congo a stake in some of this area but two years ago the DRC postponed submitting its experts' report on the issue until 2014.

In a recent interview, the DRC’s energy minister Crispin Atama Tabe acknowledged that his country is lagging behind in the oil business. He told journalists this was because the country had been selling concessions to companies that resold them instead of exploring.

Atama Tabe said the new government wants to deal directly with major oil firms that are serious about exploration, and in future the DRC’s oil blocks will be auctioned in a transparent way.

Vircoulon says these are encouraging statements.

"I’m very happy that the minister now wants good governance in the awarding of oil rights. I’m very struck that he acknowledges what we demonstrated in our report about the awarding of oil rights to ghost companies and the financial mechanism of corruption," said Vircoulon.

In a speech earlier this month, Atama Tabe called on the DRC parliament to approve a draft hydrocarbons law which has been pending for two years.

In the same speech he said the government aims to start realizing the potential of Lake Tanganyika in the medium term.

Chris Jamieson of Beach Energy commented that it may be in Congo’s interest to wait before launching exploration of Lake Tanganyika as the value of the exploration rights will increase if oil is found on the Tanzanian side.
http://www.voanews.com/content/surve...l/1497071.html

[e.base]

siku hizi discoveries za gas zimeisha wakuu?

[Geza Ulole]

Originally Posted by e.base

siku hizi discoveries za gas zimeisha wakuu?

hahah si wamesimamisha tendering process for exploration blocks mpaka wapitie mikataba kwanza

[e.base]

Originally Posted by Geza Ulole

hahah si wamesimamisha tendering process for exploration blocks mpaka wapitie mikataba kwanza

Ooh Asante kwa hiyo information. Huyu waziri mpya wa hii sekta anaonekana si mchezo, lakini mimi napenda wapitishe Mining Act nyingine..waongeze royalty kama za gold na diamond kwenda mpaka 25 percent hivi au waende model ya Botswana na kuwa na 50% ya all the mines sales. Unaonaje hapo?

[Geza Ulole]

Print | Close this window

Tanzania raises natural gas reserve estimates
Thu Oct 18, 2012 4:45pm GMT
* Minister says country becoming new gas hub

* Says govt looks to strengthen regulations

DAR ES SALAAM Oct 18 (Reuters) - Tanzania has raised its estimate of recoverable natural gas reserves to 33 trillion cubic feet (tcf) from 28.74 tcf following recent big discoveries offshore, an official said on Thursday.

"These discoveries are an indication that Tanzania is now becoming one of the natural gas hubs and a new frontier in oil and gas exploration in the east Africa region and the world at large," Deputy Energy and Minerals Minister George Simbachawene told an oil and gas conference in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.

Gas strikes off east Africa's seaboard have led to predictions the region could become the world's third-largest exporter of natural gas.

The government said it hoped the gas finds would help to transform the country's economy, which largely depends on farming, mining and tourism.

"The gas discoveries in Tanzania will not automatically be a blessing without challenges, and therefore we should not take things for granted," Simbachawene said.

"We must ... overcome impending challenges including, but not limited to, insufficient institutional and legal frameworks and insufficient human, financial, physical and related resources for the sub-sector."

Tanzania plans to restructure its state-run petroleum regulator and have in place a gas policy and legislation before the end of the year to help regulate its vast natural gas discoveries. (Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Jane Baird)

© Thomson Reuters 2012. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world.

Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
http://af.reuters.com/articlePrint?a...8LIOE720121018

[Geza Ulole]

19th October 12
Gas and oil can revolutionize economy if properly tapped
Felix Andrew
Tanzania is likely to gain from gas and oil resources if it prudently addresses challenges of managing these resources.

This was said yesterday in Dar es Salaam by the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, George Simbachawene, when opening a two-day oil and gas conference and exhibitions. The conference which ends today has been organized by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers Tanzania (IET), UDSM through the department of chemical and mining engineering, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA).

Simbachawene said the present generation is expected to be vigilant to learn from the pitfalls of other countries so that resources do not become a curse to them or for the future generations.

“It is my belief that the conference will enrich participants with different but useful ideas, knowledge and experience in oil and gas resources, which will put vital contribution to efficient and effective exploration in a sustainable way for the betterment of the present and future generations,” he said.

He said Tanzania has recently discovered large amount of natural gas approximating 33 trillion standard cubic feet which make her stand poised to become a major player in the industry at global level.

According to TPDC, about 61 wells have so far been drilled in Tanzania both offshore and onshore during the past 60 years.

“If properly managed, the current resources discoveries can revolutionise the economy and the spill off effects will be felt widely and broadly provided that oil and gas revenues are efficiently and effectively used to enhance social – economic development of the country,” he added.

However, he cautioned that such discoveries would not be a blessing without challenges which should not be taken for granted. “We must recognize, face and overcome impending challenges such as; insufficient institutions to manage the sector and legal frameworks as well as insufficient human, financial, physical and related resources for the sub sector,” he said.
Minister Simbachawene said recent gas discoveries in Tanzanian deep sea and oil discovery in the neighboring East African countries have certainly increased hopes and potential prospects for the oil and gas industry in the country.

For his part, the UDSM Vice Chancellor Prof Rwekaza Mukandala said already the varsity has started to address the challenges which might stand still the development of oil and gas industry.

He said they have established various courses at the University which would train Tanzanian on how to manage the resources.
However, he cautioned that more efforts are needed to address other challenges especially the legal framework, for once that challenge is addressed the industry will then change the economy as expected to.

This year’s conference which is held for the first time, had three objectives namely; creating a forum for stakeholders to deliberate and influence the status, prospects and development of the oil and gas industry, be a benchmarking policy, legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks guiding the oil and gas sector.

Some of the papers to be presented in the meeting include; petroleum and gas policy in Tanzania, roles of TPDC in Tanzania petroleum industry, planning and public private partnership in gas and oil industry, petroleum prospecting technology and status of exploration in Tanzania.

Others are Tanzania natural gas development, utilization and contribution to the economy, role of local research and development capacity in the development of the sector in Tanzania and standardization and quality assurance with respect to oil and gas industry, promote awareness of the potential of oil and gas in development of the country.

More than 300 local and foreign participants from private sector, public, oil companies, members of Parliament, businessmen and ordinary people are attending the conference.

THE GUARDIAN
http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/fun...le.php?l=47094

[Geza Ulole]

Print Back to story
Shell Taps Demand for Domestic Resources in Southern Europe
By Eduard Gismatullin - Oct 18, 2012
Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Europe’s largest oil company, is expanding exploration in the south of the continent, where nations plan to reduce fuel imports.

The company has obtained projects in Albania, Turkey and Ukraine in the last 12 months. In July, Shell and Total SA (FP) agreed to invest about $1.9 billion to develop the Tempa Rossa field in the Basilicata region in southern Italy. Shell also won two exploration licenses in the Gulf of Taranto off the coast of Italy in 2010.

“Italy is an emerging, interesting producer for us,” Andy Brown, Shell’s director of international production, said in an interview in London. “In terms of our prospective resources we’ve restocked our funnel quite successfully over the last few years.”

Turkey, which imports almost all of its energy, needs to find domestic oil and gas reserves to ensure security of supply and replace imports, which could cost the nation about $50 billion this year. Italy, which imports 84 percent of its energy, plans to double the share of its domestic production to 14 percent of energy demand in 2020, according to a strategic plan presented by the government this month. Ukraine wants to ease dependence on supplies from Russia.

“We are particularly busy in southern Europe,” Brown said. “We always knew there is oil in Albania.”

The Anglo-Dutch company in May paid $50.3 million to Petromanas Energy Inc. (PMI) for a 50 percent stake in Blocks 2 and 3 in Albania, according to the Calgary-based company.

Shale Exploration

In Turkey, Shell and state-owned Turkiye Petrolleri AO started exploring for shale gas in the Dadas area in the southeast of the country. Shell also started seismic work in the deepwater Mediterranean Sea south off Antalya. In March, it agreed with TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd. (TNP) to survey the Sivas Basin in north-central Turkey.

“We have a big exploration portfolio now in Turkey,” Brown said. “We are well-placed.”

Shell, based in The Hague, planned to increase investment in exploration by 35 percent to about $5 billion this year, after raising spending 30 percent to $3.6 billion last year, it said in February. It secured interests in frontiers such as Tanzania, French Guiana and southern Africa.

“I see an enormous number of opportunities,” Brown said. “We are looking around the world at the various basins and we will obviously work hard to get access ahead of the competition.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Eduard Gismatullin in London at egismatullin@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Will Kennedy at wkennedy3@bloomberg.net
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/...rn-europe.html

[Geza Ulole]

[Geza Ulole]

20th October 12
Natural gas: Dar to focus on domestic market
Florian Kaijage
As the country eyes prospects of major natural gas production, the government yesterday announced that its first priority would be meeting domestic consumption, before embarking on the export- oriented markets.

However, this would—among other things—be determined by the domestic market because studies so far show that the country’s internal demand is still smaller compared to the amount of gas that would be produced.
The announcement was made in Dar es Salaam yesterday by the Chief Secretary, Ambassador Ombeni Sefue at a news conference after the end of week-long discussions between development partners on one hand and the government institutions as well as private sector on the other.
“Exporting natural gas isn’t our priority … we will sit down and look keenly at the available gas resources and on how we are going to utilize them to boost our economy … we won’t rush because we have domestic challenge such as energy which has huge impact on the cost of running business … with gas such challenges will be dealt with,” noted the Chief Secretary.
He explained that establishment of gas infrastructure would put more emphasis on areas with high number of users in case of industrial and domestic use, citing Dar es Salaam City -- where such establishment is underway -- as a case in point.
“Revenues from gas will be re-invested to ensure economic diversification. Dar es Salaam is a living example, pipelines are under construction so that in the end gas can be taped as is the case with water instead of purchasing gas in cylinders,” he noted.
However, Ambassador Sefue said that when it is proven that there are natural gas resources in excess of domestic requirement then the government would not hesitate to sanction exportation.
He also gave the new official figure on confirmed natural gas reserves which now stand at 33 trillion standard cubic feet, an improvement from the last figure of 29 trillion cubic feet announced in July by the Minister of Energy and Minerals, Professor Sospeter Muhongo in the National Assembly in Dodoma.
Whereas Sefue said the exploration activities were still underway, and that there was likelihood of further gas discoveries, he noted that the confirmed gas resources were not enough to place Tanzania on the list of top gas producers on the globe such as neighbouring Mozambique which has higher confirmed reserves.
“But the amount of confirmed natural gas is sufficient to place us as key natural gas producers and if we position ourselves well and ensure serious management on this sub-sector it can help us push notch higher on the development ladder.”
A report by the country’s development partner whose experts formed the basis of this week’s discussions revealed that the proven natural gas resources could earn the government $2.5 billion (Sh4 trillion) a year, equivalent to 46 percent of the 2012/13 country’s annual domestic revenue projected at Sh8.7 trillion.
The document emphasized: “..The large gas discoveries could be a game changer for Tanzania. The development of an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) export market is a pre-requisite for the development of deep offshore gas discoveries because the domestic market would not be able to absorb the full volume of gas available in Tanzania”. But now the government says this will not be a priority.
Ambassador Sefue stressed that the discussion was centred on drawing experiences from the cases of failure on natural gas and oil management so as to avoid such mistakes. Likewise, experience was shared on the success stories so as to emulate from such experiences for the national interest.
Other key areas of focus were to have gas an exploration and extractive agreement that adheres to national interests, to equip local entrepreneurs with knowledge and supplying various materials to major gas companies, train experts and technicians to work with those companies and put in place proper system to manage gas revenue to avoid disruption of national economy but contribute to development on the contrary.
On his part, Word Bank representative Albert Zeufack, who spoke on behalf the development partners’ mission, stressed on the need for preparation so that the country can gain substantial benefits from gas resources.
“Gas volumes remain unproven and uncertain; even when better known substantial revenue may take 10 years or more to flow; essential regulatory, fiscal and commercial steps must come before project development can proceed. Gas will not turn Tanzania into a gas rich nation overnight”
He added: “For Tanzania to take full advantage of its resources, the country needs to “invest in investing.”

This involves building the capacity to invest efficiently and profitably, building the capacity to implement, developing human capital through the education system (general, technical and vocational) and make it demand driven to avoid skill mismatch”.
Apart from the Word Bank, the mission drew representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and British Department for International Development (DfID), European Union, African Development Bank (AfDB) as well as key representatives for Germany and China governments.
It met various stakeholders including top government officials from the energy sector ministry and departments, heads of parliamentary standing committees, civil societies and gas exploration and extraction companies.
The country has been extracting natural gas since 2004 from Songosongo island in Lindi region. The said gas is predominantly used for generation of power connected to the national grid and for manufacturing industries in Dar es Salaam
The new 532-kilometer gas pipeline from Mnazi Bay in Mtwara to Dar es Salaam is under construction, funded through a $1.2 billion concessionary loan from the Chinese Exim Bank.
THE GUARDIAN
http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/fun...le.php?l=47115

[Geza Ulole]

Statoil awards KBR Tanzanian LNG pre-FEED contract



Thursday, 04 October 2012 10:48
KBR has been awarded a contract by Statoil Tanzania to perform pre-front end engineering and design (pre-FEED) studies for a prospective LNG facility in Tanzania

The pre-FEED study is designed to help Statoil continue assessing the viability of developing an LNG facility to export natural gas from the region.

The project is expected to be completed during 2013.

KBR and Statoil have been working together for more than 30 years.

http://www.oilreviewafrica.com/gas/g...-feed-contract

[Geza Ulole]

Solo and Aminex look for farm-out partners in Tanzania


Tuesday, 09 October 2012 09:25
Aminex and Solo Oil have announced their intention to farm-out up to 50 per cent of their respective working interests in the Ruvuma PSA in Tanzania

The two companies entered into a Vendor Collaboration Agreement that has led to investment bank FirstEnergy Capital's appointment to manage the farm-out on the PSA, which covers an area measuring 6,079 sq km on Tanzania's border with Mozambique.

Solo and Aminex discovered gas at the Ntorya-1 well in the Ruvuma PSA earlier this year and an independent technical evaluation has since attributed a total mean unrisked gas-initially-in-place (GIIP) for identified leads, prospects and discoveries of 5.75 tcf within the PSA.

Solo executive director Neil Ritson said, "Solo is keen to seek an industry partner to participate in the next phase of exploration and appraisal in the Ruvuma PSA.

"The recent discovery and the encouraging resource evaluation offer a very high-value opportunity. In parallel, additional infill seismic will be acquired and this will assist us in defining the next well locations."

The Ntorya discovery has been estimated to contain 1.2 tcf of discovered and undiscovered mean GIIP.

Aminex, who acts as operator on the Ruvuma PSA, currently holds a 75 per cent working interest, with Solo holding the remaining 25 per cent.
http://www.oilreviewafrica.com/gas/g...rs-in-tanzania

[Geza Ulole]

Ophir Energy to resume Tanzania drilling operations
Friday, 28 September 2012 11:20



Ophir Energy and partners BG Group have announced they will resume their offshore Tanzania drilling campaign to further explore the resource potential of the Jodari blocks
The first three wells in the campaign will be Jodari South-1, Jodari North-1 and a re-entry into Jodari-1.
Nick Cooper, CEO of Ophir, said, “The next phase of drilling is required to confirm the role of the Jodari field as an anchor asset to support Tanzania's first multi-train LNG development. To date the Ophir-BG Joint Venture has discovered 13.5-21 TCF of gas-in-place across Blocks 1, 3 and 4 and we are looking forward to receiving further insight into the full scope of resources on these blocks.
“After these next three wells we will return to drilling high impact exploration prospects, both on the significant prospect inventory on the established intraslope play and, potentially, also on the recently identified Basin Floor Fan play,” he added.
The Deep Sea Metro 1 rig has now returned to Block 1 and will drill the top-hole section of Jodari North-1, located 40 km northeast of Mtwara port. It will then move on to drill Jodari South-1, located approximately 35km northeast of Mtwara and 3.5km southwest of the Jodari-1 well location, and a side track from Jodari South into the main Jodari field. The rig will then return to complete Jodari North-1 and a drill stem test (DST) will be performed in Q1 2013.
Combined, these three wells will confirm reservoir parameters across the Oligocene aged main reservoir of the Jodari complex, Ophir said.
In May 2010, BG Group entered into a farm-in agreement with Ophir whereby it acquired 60 per cent interest in each of the blocks, with Ophir retaining 40 per cent.
http://www.oilreviewafrica.com/explo...ing-operations

[Geza Ulole]

Print Back to story
Ophir Energy Plans to Build New LNG Plant in Equatorial Guinea
By Eduard Gismatullin - Oct 23, 2012
Ophir Energy Plc (OPHR), the U.K. explorer focusing on East and West Africa, is studying plans to build a liquefied natural gas plant in Equatorial Guinea after finding enough of the fuel off the nation’s coast to supply the site.

It made seven gas discoveries with 7 trillion cubic feet of resources on Block R, Chief Executive Officer Nick Cooper told investors today in London. Ophir plans to build a 140 kilometer (87 mile) pipeline to bring the fuel to Punta Europa on Bioko Island and feed a plant producing 3.7 million metric tons of LNG a year, according to a company presentation on its website.

“The company is now targeting a full train of LNG exports with support from the government for a fast track development,” the London-based explorer said in a statement.

The nation, Africa’s fourth-biggest exporter of LNG, has a plant with one unit, or train, on the island so far with about 3.4 million tons of annual capacity. Equatorial Guinea LNG, a venture between Marathon Oil, state-owned Sociedad Nacional de Gas, Mitsui & Co. and Marubeni Corp. (8002), has been examining plans to double output with a second unit at a cost of $4 billion.

Ophir expects to make a final decision on the EGLNG-R plant in 2014 with first gas exported as soon as 2017, Cooper said.

Separately, the company said its preliminary seismic survey in Tanzania Block 7 identified the Mlinzi prospect with more than 20 trillion cubic feet of potential gas resources. Another study mapped the Kusini area, finding the Lead 1C prospect with more than 22 trillion cubic feet of resources in Block 1.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eduard Gismatullin in London at egismatullin@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Will Kennedy at wkennedy3@bloomberg.net
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/...al-guinea.html

i swear June 2013 does not arrive before the real black gold is discovered and gonna be World shock!

[Geza Ulole]

Print | Close this window

African Eagle sees Tanzania nickel production in 2016
Wed Oct 24, 2012 5:52pm GMT
ARUSHA, Tanzania Oct 24 (Reuters) - African Eagle Resources Plc said on Wednesday it planned to start construction of a nickel mine in Tanzania in 2014, with first production of the metal expected to begin in 2016.

The company said its Dutwa project located around 100 km east of the gold-rich Mwanza region, has a resource of 110 million tonnes at 0.9 percent nickel.

"This represents around 1 million tonnes of nickel metal," Aidan Schoonbee, project director of African Eagle's Dutwa resource said in a presentation to an energy and mining conference in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha.

"The anticipated life of mine is over 20 years."

He said the company expected to apply for a mining license next year after conclusion of the environmental and social impact assessment of the project.

The AIM-listed exploration company says on its website it plans to build an open pit mine to produce around 27,000 tonnes per annum of nickel.
http://af.reuters.com/articlePrint?a...8LOH7I20121024

[Geza Ulole]

Print | Close this window

Uranium One sees building of Tanzania mine in 2013
Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:37pm GMT
* Tanzania to become Africa's 3rd biggest uranium producer

* Govt wants mining sector to contribute more to GDP growth

By Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala

ARUSHA, Tanzania, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Uranium One's Tanzanian unit said it hoped to start building its Mkuju River uranium mine in 2013 and that, once completed, it would propel the east African country into the world's top ten uranium producers.

Mantra Tanzania's managing director Asa Mwaipopo said on Wednesday the Mkuju River project in southern Tanzania had an updated resource of 119.4 million pounds of uranium.

"It will take a two-year period for completing construction work before we start to produce uranium oxide. Tanzania will become number 3 in Africa in uranium production after Niger and Namibia," Mwaipopo told a mining and energy conference in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha.

"We think we can be the first uranium mine in Tanzania and position Tanzania into the top 10 uranium producing countries globally."

Toronto-listed Uranium One is the operator of the Mkuju River project, which is owned by the Canadian uranium producer's majority shareholder, Russia's JSC Atomredmetzoloto (ARMZ).

ARMZ acquired the Mkuju River project when it bought Mantra Resources last year for around $1 billion. Uranium One has the option to purchase the project and the company aims to buy the asset by mid-2013.

"The project will provide direct and indirect cash flows in Tanzania in excess of $640 million and will provide foreign direct investment (FDI) in excess of $1 billion or equivalent to 4.76 percent of Tanzania's GDP," said Mwaipopo.

Mwaipopo said the project had been delayed by cumbersome regulatory licensing procedures.

Environmental groups had opposed the mine's construction in a world heritage game reserve. Tanzania received U.N. approval for the project to proceed in July.

The project is awaiting an environmental impact assessment certificate and final approval from Tanzania's ministry of energy and minerals.

Tanzania's ministry of natural resources and tourism is also still to give the nod for the proposed uranium mine to operate in the Selous game reserve, but Mwaipopo said the approval was expected soon.

Mantra said the company was also in talks with the Tanzanian government about provisions of the country's new mining legislation, which requires the state to own a stake in strategic mining projects.

He said the grade of the Tanzanian uranium resource was 297 parts per million, with the mine estimated to have a life of 12 years when constructed.

Tanzania's deputy energy and minerals minister, George Simbachawene, told the conference earlier on Wednesday the government wanted to increase the contribution of the mining sector to 10 percent of the GDP by 2025 from 3.3 percent last year.

Australian-based uranium exploration and development company, Uranex, is also prospecting for uranium in south-west Tanzania.

Tanzania, Africa's fourth-largest gold producer also has substantial deposits of coal, nickel, iron ore, diamond and gemstones.

© Thomson Reuters 2012. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world.

Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
http://af.reuters.com/articlePrint?a...8LOA4U20121024

[e.base]