Aminex Eyes 2nd Tanzanian Producer
Down from a $7mn loss in 2014, UK explorer Aminex on April 25 announced a 2015 loss of $3.78mn adding: “2016 will be the year when Aminex begins to reap rewards from a decade of exploration and development in southern Tanzania with first production from Kiliwani North, booking its first reserves in country.” Further south, it also hopes to produce gas from the Ntorya discovery "in the foreseeable future." Meanwhile northern Tanzania has been chosen as the route for a new $2bn oil export pipeline project from Uganda
Kiliwani North produced first gas early this month and is now being used to commission the Songo Songo Island gas processing plant in southern Tanzania but will soon initially produce and sell 25-30mn ft3/d at $3/mn Btu, said Aminex.
Kiliwani North (Aminex as operator 54.575%) is a shallow water field close to Songo Songo island. Aminex also has a 90% interest in the adjacent Nyuni production sharing agreement (PSA) where it will focus exploration on the deep water area; up to 700km2 of new 3D seismic will be acquired. A two-well commitment, due to be carried out in 2015, has been deferred into the next exploration phase which expires in October 2019.
Further south near the Mozambican border, Aminex is also exploring its Ruvuma PSA, operated 75% by Aminex with partner Solo Oil 25% -- not far from the Maurel & Prom-operated Mnazi Bay gasfield. Aminex chairman Brian Hall explains that at Ruvuma: “We expect to spud a new well, Ntorya-2, to offset and appraise the Ntorya-1 discovery during the course of this summer with an additional well, Ntorya-3, also being planned to test the main channel system. Once Ntorya-2 has been drilled, Aminex expects to apply for a development licence for the prospect, opening the way for the company to produce from not one but two separate Tanzanian fields in the foreseeable future.”
Meanwhile Northern Tanzania – rather than southern Kenya -- was announced this weekend as the export route by Uganda for a $2bn new 1,400km oil pipeline, the BBC and news agencies reported. It will connect oil reserves in western Uganda at Hoima to the port of Tanga in northeast Tanzania. Security concerns are said to have weighed against routing the project via Kenya.
Mark Smedley