At the time of writing (April 2018), it is understood that the Government of the Union of Comoros is still offering 32 open blocks on an open-door policy.  Of the 32 open blocks, seven blocks are located in the Somali Deep Sea Basin (blocks 01 to 07), four straddle the Somalia Deep Sea and the West Indian Ocean Floor basins (blocks 08 to 11) and the rest lie entirely on the West Indian Ocean Floor Basin (blocks 12 to 34). Block surface of the open blocks ranges from 2780 sq km to 6,530 sq km. The blocks offered included territorial waters of the claimed Mayotte Island.   Contact details:    H.E. Abdou Nassur Madi  Union des Comores  Minister of Production, Environment, Energy, Industry and Handicrafts  B.P. 41  Moroni â Comoros  Phone: +269 775 0000  There are 40 blocks delineated by the government, among which two blocks (17 and 24) awarded in late 2015 to Rhino Resources, three blocks (35, 36 and 37) awarded in 2014 to Bahari Resources and Discover Exploration and three blocks (38, 39, 40) awarded in 2014 to Safari Petroleum and Western Energy Production. Zones around the main islands of the Archipelago are excluded of any petroleum exploration.  The Comorosâ acreage is a frontier area. The Comoros Islands are separated from East Africa by the Davie Fracture Zone, although, the Rovuma Delta Fan may extend beyond that ridge. The main potential for oil and gas exploration appears to be the eastern extension of the Rovuma Delta where deep water fan stratigraphic plays are expected to be found. Faulting along the ridge separating the Comoros from East Africa Continent is also known to have created large anticlinal structures. No exploration well has ever been drilled in Comorian waters.  The current licensing regulation allows an operator to apply for one permit including up to three blocks, each of them covering a maximum area of about 6,500 sq km. The applicant must initially negotiate the terms of the petroleum contract with the minister in charge of energy. Then, the Council of Ministers gives its approbation, so that the petroleum contract can be signed, before a final approval by the National Assembly. The initial four-year exploration period compels the companies to acquire a 2D seismic survey and to determine prospective exploration targets.  Background Information    The Union of Comoros became independent from France in 1975. The Comoro Islands consists of three major islands: Grand Comore (also known as Ngazidja), MohÃ©li (Mwali) and Anjouan (Nzwani). The contested Mayotte (Maore) Island has been an overseas department of France since 31 March 2011, but it is still resolutely claimed by the Comorian authorities. Comoros has a total population of about 800,000 people (excluding Mayotte).
 At the time of writing (April 2018), it is understood that the Government of the Union of Comoros is still offering 32 open blocks on an open-door policy. Of the 32 open blocks, seven blocks are located in the Somali Deep Sea Basin (blocks 01 to 07), four straddle the Somalia Deep Sea and the West Indian Ocean Floor basins (blocks 08 to 11) and the rest lie entirely on the West Indian Ocean Floor Basin (blocks 12 to 34). 