ENI Marks Kenyan Entry

Italian firm ENI has expanded its exploration position in East Africa landing on three new blocks offshore Kenya. The company signed three PSCs with the Kenyan government covering blocks  L-21, L-23 and L-24, marking its entry in the country.

The three blocks are located in the deep and ultra-deep waters of the Lamu Basin.

The initial exploration phase under the PSCs for the blocks, which will be operated by ENI with 100% interest, consists of the execution of a seismic acquisition program. 

It should be noted however, that the blocks lie in disputed waters. The acreage is a bone of contention between Kenya and its neighbor to the north Somalia. The two countries disagree over the location of their boundary line in the Indian Ocean and could possibly threaten exploration programs of companies that the government of Kenya has awarded acreage to.

Kenya’s petroleum commissioner Martin Heya told Reuters recently in an interview that the government had reassured explorers that the blocks would remain Kenyan.