PetroChad Mangara has announced the export of its first barrel of oil via the Chad-Cameroon pipeline in less than a month under new management, ushering in a new era of production and cash generation for Chad. The export represents an important step toward restarting and rebuilding production in Chad at a time when the demand for oil is rising globally, as the firm seeks to position the nation as a globally competitive oil producer.
What makes this development such a cause for celebration is that it demonstrates the commitment of both international oil companies and the country itself while signalling a new era of production growth in Chad. Just last month, European independent oil and gas company Perenco completed the acquisition of Anglo-Swiss multinational Glencore’s corporate entities in Chad, providing the company with full ownership of PetroChad Mangara. With the acquisition, Perenco kicked off an ambitious production drive, with the company announcing its intention to restart production across key fields, bringing the country’s oil output back up to 16 000 bpd in the near term. Now, having announced its first export, this target is well on track, with a new era of industry growth awaiting the country.
Currently, PetroChad operates three major oilfields in Chad, namely, Mangara and Badila – both producing since 2014 and exporting oil via the Doba Oil pipeline – and the undeveloped, yet high-potential Krim oilfield. The announcement of the first export via the Chad-Cameroon pipeline – a 1070 km pipeline linking the Doba oilfields in Chad with Cameroon’s Atlantic Coast pumping stations, ancillary facilities and infrastructure – marks the first step in the independent’s drive to resume production, while triggering associated exploration activities across the basin. The Krim oilfield itself represents a particularly attractive hydrocarbon hotspot, and with revenue generated from exports, exploration can kickstart and national output increase even further.
According to Perenco, the export of the first oil would not have been possible without the close coordination with Société des Hydrocarbures du Tchad (SHT) and the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, led by Minister Djerassem le Bemadjiel. Both the ministry and SHT have emphasised the role that oil and gas will play in Chad’s energy and economic future, and by working closely with international energy major, Perenco, the country is already seeing growth. For SHT and the ministry, the announcement reaffirms Chad’s readiness to welcome international explorers and investors into the country while for Perenco, it demonstrates the company’s capacity to deliver operational results in a remarkably short time.
