“The on the ground activities by foreign companies is not only an indication of the abundance of oil but prevailing secure operational environment” Somaliland minister of energy and minerals Eng Hussein Abdi Duale
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The Republic of Somaliland which is part of a southward extension of the “lucrative geologic framework of the Arabian Gulf” that includes Saudi Arabia is to have RAK Gas LLC start exploration and extraction in blocks SL9 and SL12 respectively.
This development follows a meeting between the Somaliland minister of Energy and Minerals and visiting officials of RAK Gas LLC led by Osama Abdulla Aal in Hargeisa where the two sides agreed for commencement of contractual obligations in March 2014.
Speaking after their meeting Osama Abdulla Aal a senior official of the UAE Ras al Khaimah government owned company said that he was not only happy to be in Somaliland but highly anticipating start of his company’s operations in the country.
“We thank the government of Somaliland and the minister of Energy Eng Duale for facilitating our entry into the Oil sector in Somaliland which we hope shall be fruitful for us all” said Mr. Aal
According to the Energy and minerals Minister Eng Hussein Abdi Duale the UAE based company is the fourth international company to formally start oil exploration after Genel Energy Plc (GENL), DNO International ASA. (DNO) and Yemeni based ANSA Wikfs respectively.
“The on the ground activities by these companies is not only an indication of the abundance of oil but prevailing secure operational environment” said Eng Duale while informing that the government of president Silanyo which is committed to improving the livelihoods of citizens shall provide all relevant facilitation to these and other foreign companies that have been contracted by the administration.
Speaking to Somalilandsun Eng Duale who revealed that the UAE concern joins the exploration sector in the country after the execution of an amendment to the production sharing Agreement (PSA) with Ophir Energy plc (Ophir) and Ras al Khaimah Gas company LLC (RAKGAS), for the exploration of Block SL9 and SL12 respectively.
The Amendment includes the awarding of additional acreage to Ophir and RAKGAS in lieu of signature bonus, the payments of surface rent, a participating interest and an improved work program.
The company (OPHIR) had earlier conducted and acquired 2D seismic data offshore after completing an Aeromagnetic survey onshore in Q1 2008. The group says they will complete and process a further 750KM of 2D data as they commence towards drilling in Somaliland.
RAK GAS LLC Company Overview
The Ras al Khaimah Gas Commission was established in the year 1984 by Emiri Decree number 14/84 issued by the ruler of Ras al Khaimah and its dependencies. In 2007 the commission was changed into an LLC company and named RAKGAS.
The mission of RAKGAS is to provide the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah with a consistent and secure supply of energy as well as generate growth and revenues for its government.
The Company’s core business is to source and market natural gas. In addition, the Company has gas processing facilities and a portfolio of exploration & production assets.
RAKGAS’s E&P Portfolio includes interests in a number of exploration-stage blocks. It is the majority shareholder in two offshore blocks in Ras al Khaimah as well as having interests in exploration blocks in a number of African countries the latest being Somaliland. http://www.rakgas.ae
Ophir Energy plc
Ophir Energy plc was founded in 2004 in the UK and is the incorporated holding company of a group of companies with oil and gas exploration assets in a number of African states among them Somaliland
