Swala Oil & Gas (Tanzania) plc (‘Swala’ or ‘the Company’) declared yesterday that the Ministry of Energy and Mining (MEM) has agreed to extend the period within which an exploration well must be drilled in each of the Kilosa-Kilombero and Pangani licences to the 20th February 2017. This one-year extension is to be deducted from the 4-year additional exploration extension period currently due to commence on 20th February 2016, resulting in the additional exploration period having a duration of three years.
Under the Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) that govern activity on each of these two licenses, the Joint Venture (JV) was originally obliged to drill an exploration well in each license by the 20th February 2016. The JV carried out a seismic survey that was completed in December 2014 and in the same month the JV and the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation (“TPDC”) agreed to carry out the processing and interpretation of the seismic data during the first half of 2015.
This left relatively little time to confirm drilling locations, to carry out the necessary environmental impact assessments and to secure long lead-time items, and the JV therefore requested Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation and MEM to allow it to complete its exploration drilling obligations into the next exploration phase. Both entities have now consented to this modification.
Speaking at a brief press conference after receiving the good news, Swala CEO Dr. David Mestres Ridge acknowledged, “The joint venture has been actively preparing to drill the two licences and we are grateful to MEM and TPDC for their pragmatic flexibility in respect of the drilling timetable. In June we appointed an Operations Manager with responsibility for the drilling campaign and we are in the process of engaging a consultant to carry out the Environmental Impact Assessments for the drill locations”
“At the same time, we have been further interpreting the seismic data so as to choose the best drilling locations. The extension of the time limit for completing the exploration drilling allows us to continue our preparatory work with the comfort that all steps are being taken to maximise the chances of success and minimise costs whilst not compromising on either health, safety or environmental integrity.” He also added.
Dr. David Mestres Ridge