Zimbabwe

Invictus Energy’s Cabora Bassa Exploration And Development Project Progresses Offshore Zimbabwe


Published: Wednesday August 17, 2022
By: Oilfield Africa Review

Invictus Energy Limited has provided an update on the activities of its 80% owned and operated Cabora Bassa project in Zimbabwe. Assignment of exploration rights to EPO 1848 and EPO 1849 by Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe Invictus’ 80% owned subsidiary Geo Associates (Pvt) Ltd (Geo Associates) and the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe (SWFZ) (collectively “the Parties”) have executed an assignment agreement (the Assignment) for the exploration rights to Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs) 1848 and 1849.

EPOs 1848 and 1849 are contiguous to the Company’s current SG 4571 licence (together “the Exploration Licences”), with the newly combined area covering the entire conventional oil and gas play fairway in the Cabora Bassa Basin. The Assignment follows gazettal of the EPOs and Heads of Agreement with the SWFZ, as detailed in the ASX release on 28 March 2022, where the Parties agreed to collaborate in exploration for oil and gas within RA MSC003 Cabora Bassa South.

The Exploration Licences include the newly identified Basin Margin play and entire prospective oil and gas fairway covered by the recently completed high resolution CB21 2D Seismic Survey,

Baobab-1 selected as Basin Margin play opening well

Following the execution of the Assignment, the Company has selected the Baobab prospect as the commitment well to be drilled in the expanded licence area. The Baobab prospect will test one of the multiple Basin Margin targets which display similar structural characteristics to the prolific East Africa Rift “String of Pearls” play and provided material discoveries in the Lokichar Basin in Kenya and Albertine Graben in Uganda.

 SWFZ back-in entitlement

The Assignment confers all exploration rights and obligations for EPOs 1848 and 1849 from SWFZ to Geo Associates and conversion to a Special Grant upon application following a commercial discovery. The SWFZ will be entitled to a 10 per cent back-in right within six months of an announcement of Final Investment Decision to develop any commercial discovery. The Assignment will be published in the forthcoming Zimbabwe Government Gazette, after which an updated prospect and lead inventory and technical details of the Baobab-1 well will be provided to the market.

The residual area to the west and east of Exploration Licences in the Cabora Bassa Basin under RA MSC003 Cabora Bassa South, which was initially considered in the HoA with the SWFZ, are not prospective for conventional oil and gas due to outcropping of target stratigraphy to surface.

“We are extremely pleased to have concluded the Assignment Agreement with the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe to expand our exploration footprint in the Cabora Bassa Basin. “The combined Exploration Licences provide us with a basin master position encompassing the entire conventional oil and gas play fairway and running room in the basin.

 “The Exploration Licences are focused on the core prospective area in the basin, which is covered by our CB21 Seismic Survey and minimises our holding costs through the relinquishment of nonprospective areas in the basin.

“We are grateful for the constructive efforts by the Zimbabwe Government to conclude the amendments to the Petroleum Act to facilitate the signing of the Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement (PPSA).

 “The PPSA will provide a robust framework to facilitate long-term investment in the oil and gas sector with confidence and ensures the country derives its fair share of any discovered resources.

 “We are excited to confirm Baobab-1 as the second well to be drilled in our basin opening exploration program, which will target the newly identified basin margin play, displaying similar characteristics to the prolific East Africa Rift “String of Pearls” play.

Subject to making an opening discovery with either Mukuyu-1 or Baobab-1, it could potentially provide us with future discoveries on a large scale within the basin.” Invictus Managing Director Scott Macmillan commented.

Sponsored Partners

Discover our premium partners and explore their innovative solutions in the industry

Conferences & Exhibitions
NAICE 2025: SPE Nigeria Council to Champion a Tech-Driven, Inclusive Energy Future
Friday July 18, 2025
Gas & Power
BASF, Equinor Sign Ten-Year Natural Gas Supply Agreement
Friday July 18, 2025
Egypt
New Fortress Energy Deploys Second FSRU to Egypt
Friday July 18, 2025
Carbon Capture
Kenyan Start-Up Aiming to Generate Carbon Credits from Thin Air
Friday July 18, 2025
Wind energy
bp to Sell US Onshore Wind Business to LS Power
Friday July 18, 2025
Conferences & Exhibitions
Renaissance Energy Africa Joins African Energy Week (AEW) as Silver Partner
Friday July 18, 2025
Pipeline
Strohm Completes Successful Field Trials for TCP Pipe Design
Wednesday July 16, 2025