Gazprom Interested in Exploring for CBM in Zimbabwe

Gazprom is reportedly interested in extracting coal bed methane (CBM) in Zimbabwe’s Lupane region.

According to local newspaper The Herald, Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa disclosed this after meeting between Vice President Phelekhezela Mphoko and the Russian delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Georgy Kalamanov.

"The relationship between Zimbabwe and Russia is strategic and we looked at a number of issues which include the coal bed methane gas in Lupane that we have been talking about for the past 20 years. We were advised that Gazprom may be interested in it and we hope further discussions will be held to finalise the project," the minister said on Friday.

Estimates suggest that there is more than 40 trillion cubic feet of potentially recoverable CBM reserves in the Lupane - Lubimbi area, The Herald said.