Oil explorer seeks green light to drill in Wajir, Mandera
Oil and gas reserves have been discovered in Kenya, attracting more investors seeking a piece of the multi-billion-shilling business. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
The first results of exploration will be issued in five months after the start of drilling.
London Stock Exchange-listed oil explorer Afren Plc seeks to start drilling in Mandera and Wajir counties following the release of an environmental impact report.
National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has issued the study on the drilling of hydrocarbons and oil in Bur Wein in Mandera and at Konton in Wajir. Afren had filed environmental disclosure with Nema for Block-1 that falls under Mandera basin.
“Environment Management Authority (Nema) has received an environmental impact assessment study report for the proposed project,” reads a gazette notice.
The proposed activities include site preparation, equipment assemblage, well foundation, rig building, drilling and restoration of the well site. The first results of exploration will be issued in five months after the start of drilling.
Oil exploration in Kenya has gathered pace with the discovery of reserves in Turkana by British prospector Tullow, which is also drilling additional wells in the Kerio basin (Epir-1) and Northern Turkana (Engomo-1).
Australian oil firm Pancontinental announced in June that it had discovered oil and gas after drilling the Sunbird-1 well in Block L10A, situated off the coast of Mombasa. The proximity of the Wajir drilling site to the Somalia border, which lies just 10 kilometres away, could pose a security worry.
There has been an ongoing dispute between Kenya and Somalia over the maritime border of the two countries which lies in an area with potential oil reserves in the Lamu basin, prompting Somalia to move to a UN court seeking determination of the boundary.
On Thursday last week, Tullow Oil announced a discovery of oil at the Etom 1 exploration well that it said extended the already proven South Lokichar basin significantly northwards. It said that following the success of the South Lokichar basin, the site would be extended to cover a further 247 square kilometres in the northern area.
About 30,000 square kilometres in Marsabit, Lamu and Turkana counties were last year issued to oil companies to carry out exploration.
