The Ethiopian authorities are promoting the countryâs open acreage which is available to companies for direct negotiations. Petroleum contracts are in the form of Model Production Sharing Agreement of 1994 between the government of Ethiopia, represented by the Minister of Mines and Energy, and a contractor. The contracts have an initial exploration term of four years and an optional two year term, with two possible further exploration periods of two years (4+2+2). The development and production period is of 25 years. The minimum exploration and expenditure obligations are negotiable. The signature and production bonuses are also negotiable. The income tax is 30%.    For further details, interested companies are invited to contact:     Mr. Ketsela Tadesse    Head of Petroleum Operations Department    Ministry of Mines & Energy    486 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia    Phone: + 251 11 646 12 09    Fax: + 251 11 646 34 39    Â   The available blocks as of September 2018 are understood to be as listed below.  There are 21 available blocks.  Total open acreage amounts to 556,021 sq km, all onshore.          Open blocks         Â          Â          Â              Block Name         Area (sq km)         Situation         Block Basin             Afar         24,601         onshore         Afar Basin             Afar Area         63,038         onshore         Afar Basin             Area 4         3,679         onshore         Amhara Massif             Block 01         12,207         onshore         Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali Basin)             Block 02         12,232         onshore         Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali Basin)             Block 05         18,299         onshore         Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali Basin)             Block 06         12,232         onshore         Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali Basin)             Block 07         12,254         onshore         Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali Basin)             Block 18         12,232         onshore         Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali Basin)             Block 19         6,466         onshore         Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali Basin)             Block 21         6,093         onshore         Mudugh Sub-basin (Somali Basin)             Block AB2         12,069         onshore         Amhara Massif             Block AB3         12,069         onshore         Amhara Massif             Block AB5         12,109         onshore         Amhara Massif             Block AB6         12,109         onshore         Amhara Massif             Block AB8         12,135         onshore         Abbay (Blue Nile) Basin             Block AB9         12,128         onshore         Abbay (Blue Nile) Basin             Gambela         157,100         onshore         Amhara Massif             Metema         29,827         onshore         Mekele Basin             North West         82,538         onshore         Mekele Basin             Omo         30,604         onshore         Amhara Massif
Ethiopia, Afar (Gewane-El Wiha)