Maputo, Mozambique, 17 Aug – US company Anadarko Petroleum has found oil in the Rovuma basin in Mozambique, the country’s Mining Resources minister, Esperança Bias said cited by Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias.

The minister said that the presence of oil associated to natural gas in the basin had been detected at a depth of 5,100 metres, and that it was also the first time oil had been found in the sea off East Africa.

“I say there is a presence of oil because we now need to confirm, via at least three wells that will be drilled, if it is a commercial discovery,” Bias said.

Asked about when Anadarko would drill the three test wells, the minister said that it would likely be this year.

In 2006 Anadarko signed contracts with the Mozambican government to drill six wells in the Rovuma basin.

The oil associated to natural gas was found in the third well known as “Ironclad,” after the company announced it had found gas in the second well, known as “Windjammer,” at a depth of 3,600 metres.

As well as Anadarko there are three other companies surveying and prospecting for hydrocarbons in the Rovuma basin, Italy’s ENI, Malaysia’s Petronas and Norway’s Statoil, which are currently concluding their assessment of seismic data gathered in order to schedule drilling.

Bias also said that proposals had recently been received from bidders for the fourth tender for surveying and prospecting for oil and gas in the country and that the winners would be announced soon. (macauhub)