Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Mines, Industry and Energy (MMIE) has launched the country’s latest licensing round, EG Ronda 2016, that offers 32 blocks offshore West Africa.
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Image of Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, from MMIE. |
Oil and gas companies are able submit letters of interest to the Ministry for the EG Ronda 2016 that offers acreage that is currently operated or under direct negotiation.
The acreage includes the Block A-12, which was recently relinquished by Marathon Oil, that has hosted multiple oil discoveries. Marathon had an 80% working interest in Block A-12, which is located adjacent to the Marathon-operated Alba Field, some 20mi offshore Bioko Island.
The Ministry also confirmed that the former EG-05 block is also open, which was once operated by Glencore plc. EG-05 was then split into four prospective offshore licenses which have never been drilled.
“The bidding round will be made publically available in London on 20 June, during Africa Assembly; in Singapore 20-23 September; in Istanbul during the World Energy Congress 9-13 October; and the last event in Houston in November. The bidding concludes November 30,” MMIE said.
In total MMIE is offering 37 blocks, of which 32 of them are offshore, with the remaining five located onshore.
A total of 114 discoveries have been made in the country to date, with 48 resulting in discoveries.
“Our nation is a proven profitable home for global oil and gas companies that explore our waters, and now we look forward to meeting potential explorers at roadshow events worldwide in 2016,” Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima said.
The country first announced the launch of the 2016 bid round for all remaining deepwater and ultra deepwater blocks in October 2015.
At the time, two operators have confirmed they will further explore prospects in Equatorial Guinea in 2016: RoyalGate Energy to drill Block Z and Brazil’s G3 Oleo e Gas to drill Block EG-01.
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