Maputo, Mozambique, 29 May – The Mozambican government is preparing to issue new hydrocarbons exploration and production concession contracts in the Rovuma River basin, an official has said.

Arsenio Mabote, director of the country’s National Petroleum Institute, said Monday that the new licensing round would be launched by 2008 at the latest, adding his institute was waiting for environmental impact studies it has commissioned.

Mabote said he didn’t know how many exploration contracts would be issued and whether these agreements would apply to onshore or offshore blocs.

Although exploration in the Rovuma basin has not yet yielded any major oil discoveries, prospecting indicates significant quantities of natural gas in the area.

Artumas of Canada, Anadarko Petroleum of the United States, Petronas of Malaysia and Italy’s ENI are some of the international energy firms already exploring for hydrocarbons in the Rovuma basin. (macauhub)