Sudan Awards Exploration Blocks
The government in Khartoum has signed some exploration and production sharing agreements with several international oil companies. The government, earlier this year, put nine blocks on offer and according to senior oil officials the deals netted Sudan about $1 billion in investments.
State Oil Minister Ishaq Adam Gamaa said Canadian firm Statesman Resources Ltd. as well as Chinese, Nigerian, Australian, Brazilian, and French companies had signed the agreements. Sudan’s state-owned oil and gas firm Sudapet was included in the deals.
Of the blocks awarded, seven were awarded for the first time, while some companies joined previously awarded contracts for two other blocks. Some of the blocks are near the northern border with Egypt, some are offshore, and others are near Kassala in eastern Sudan and in Khartoum state.
"The initial investment needed for these blocks is $1 billion. It will not be cash given to Sudan, but money that will be invested by those companies," Gamaa told Reuters. He said there would be no production at the new blocks for several years while companies carry out magnetic surveys, seismic data, and drilling of exploratory wells.
Gamaa said the government's share of oil would depend on data from each block. "The government priority will be to meet domestic demand and export the surplus," he said.
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