13th Dec 2012 12:00
SACOIL HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1993/000460/06)
JSE share code: SCL AIM share code: SAC
ISIN: ZAE000127460
("SacOil" or "the Company")
Award of the onshore Petroleum Prospecting Licence Block 1 in Malawi
SacOil, the African independent upstream oil & gas company, is pleased to announce the award of 100% equity interest and operator status in Block 1, an onshore petroleum prospecting license in Malawi. Following due process and intensive negotiations between SacOil and the Malawian government, the prospecting licence was awarded to SacOil on the 12 December 2012. The license was duly signed by the Honourable, John Bande, Minister of Mining in the Republic of Malawi.
Block 1 is located in the North Western part of Malawi bordering Tanzania to the North and Zambia to the west. At 12,265 square kilometres, Block 1 is the second largest petroleum exploration licence demarcated in Malawi. The licence is located on trend with the East African rift system which is a proven exploration province with prolific oil discoveries in Sudan, Chad, Kenya and Uganda. It is anticipated that the same Tertiary rift system will be present in Malawi. This award dovetails with SacOil's strategy of building a balanced upstream oil and gas portfolio through the acquisition of early stage opportunities in Africa similar to that which has already been demonstrated by the company in the DRC.
The term of the exploration licence is divided into an initial four (4) year period followed by two subsequent three (3) year renewal periods. During the initial four (4) year period it is envisaged that desktop studies and the acquisition of gravity and magnetic data will take place in order to evaluate the petroleum potential of the block. The financial obligation on SacOil for the initial 4 year period is a total of US$2 million.
Commenting on the acquisition, Robin Vela, CEO, said:
"We are delighted at the award of the licence; it represents our firm commitment to grow our asset base on the African continent and drive shareholder value. This is in line with SacOil's strategy of building and developing a uniquely African portfolio. In addition, it gives effect to our drive to unlock under-explored regions in Africa."
13 December 2012
Johannesburg
ENDS
JSE Sponsor
Nedbank Capital
For further information please contact: | ||
finnCap Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker) | +44 (0) 20 7220 0500 | |
Matthew Robinson / Christopher Raggett | ||
First Energy Capital (Joint Broker UK) Majid Shafiq Travis Inlow |
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+44 (0) 20 7448 0200
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GMP Securities Europe LLP (Joint Broker UK) James Pope Chris Beltgens |
+44 (0) 20 7647 2800 | |
Keyter Rech Investor Solutions (SA) Vanessa Ingram Lynne Bothma
The Riverbed Agency (SA) Raphala Mogase
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+27 (0) 11 447 2993
+27 (0) 11 783 7903 |
Pelham Bell Pottinger (UK) | ||
Philip Dennis | +44 (0) 20 7861 3919 | |
Nick Lambert | +44 (0) 20 7861 3936 | |
Rollo Crichton-Stuart | +44 (0) 20 7861 3918 |
Related Shares:
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