Petroleum Africa
Find us on: 
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Kenya’s Ministry of Energy is expected to gazette seven exploration blocks before the end of June. The addition of the seven blocks brings the total number of blocks up to 53. Currently 44 of Kenya’s 46 blocks are licensed to 23 oil firms.
Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Davis Chirchir said around seven exploration wells will be drilled by the end of this year both onshore and offshore. “This demonstrates the commitment of my ministry to evaluate the full hydrocarbon potential in the country’s four sedimentary basins of Lamu, Mandera, Anza, and Tertiary Rift,” said Chirchir in a speech read on his behalf by petroleum commissioner Martin Heya during a conference.
It was also revealed that Kenya will change the way it licenses exploration blocks “To set the ball rolling, the country is moving away from the previous open door policy of licensing the blocks on basis of first come first served in favour of bid rounds,” Chirchir said.
Before the switch to bid rounds is made, the government needs to develop a term sheet for minimum terms that will be given to interested oil companies to compete on the available open blocks. On this, Heya said the current terms and conditions are very hard for interested companies and that they will even get harder after commercial viability is confirmed.
The government will also conduct a review of its current Petroleum Exploration and Production Act Chapter 308 and the Model Production Contract under the Act.
" alt="First LNG Realized at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Project">
" alt="United Energy Acquires Western Desert Producer APEX">
" alt="Baker Hughes Announces Major Gas Technology Orders for Venture Global LNG">
" alt="ReconAfrica: Naingopo Results Demonstrate a Working Petroleum System">
" alt="Tullow Highlights 2025 Operational Plans in Ghana">
" alt="TotalEnergies to Supply 1.5 TWh to STMicroelectronics in France Over 15 years">
" alt="Rockhopper Reaches Final Settlement with United on Egypt’s Abu Sennan Concession">
" alt="Oil & Gas Crucial for African Growth: AEC Calls for Industry Support to Defend African Market">
