This is a busy time for me. I am actively working on two hydrocarbon exploration projects in Tanzania and one in Kenya, and have recently been (or still am) assessing the exploration potential of parts parts of East Africa, notably Madagascar, Kenya (Anza Graben), Tanzania (Mandawa Basin), South Africa (Algoa Basin), Central African Republic (very dodgy), Chad, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia (including Somaliland and Puntland), Malawi, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia. I think that’s all. I may have missed some off the list (oh yes, Eritrea) but that gives a flavour of where my recent efforts have lead me.
So are any of these counties or areas prospective for hydrocarbons? Some more than others, but none jump out at me as being sure-fire missed hydrocarbon basins. That’s the hell and the beauty of exploration, once you know were the oil is, its easy to find. Its the knowing where to look. For example, 10 years ago folk would have said that there would be no chance of finding commercial oil in western Uganda or north-western Kenya (see http://www.tullowoil.com/index.asp?pageid=476). One way or another, a lot more effort and money must be spent before we find all the undiscovered oil across Africa.
The search for African oil is a giant jigsaw puzzle and there is no illustration on the lid of the box. Luckily, I like puzzles.
