At the ‘Africa Oil Week: Investing in African Energy’ event in Cape Town, South Africa, on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Liberia, Tanzania, and Zanzibar launched new oil and gas licensing rounds.
Liberia is offering 29 blocks under its latest licensing program, which includes a three-phase exploration plan. The program allows for 100 percent cost recovery on pre-Production Sharing Contract (PSC) seismic data.
The process involves pre-qualification, followed by block selection and negotiations. Energy data firm TGS is supporting the program by providing over 24,000 square kilometers (sq. km.) of 2D seismic data and more than 26,000 sq. km. of 3D data.
Tanzania’s fifth licensing round will offer 24 offshore and onshore exploration blocks, with the process set to open on 5 March 2025. The blocks are located in the Indian Ocean and Lake Tanganyika. The licensing terms include a nine-year exploration period and a 25-year development and production phase, with a potential 20-year extension. Technical data, including seismic, gravity, and bathymetric reports, will be made available.
Zanzibar unveiled eight blocks, ranging in size from 2,846 to 5,666 square kilometers, with depths between 500 and 3,000 meters. The total licensing area spans 31,883 square kilometers and includes 10,145 linear kilometers of 2D seismic data. The exploration plan extends over a five-year period.
