The Central African Republic's (CAR) Minister of Mines & Geology, LÃ©opold Mboli Fatran, announced at the Africa Oil Week (AOW) event in early November 2019 that open acreage is available for companies interested to invest in the country's hydrocarbon exploration activity.   At least three blocks in the North would be on offer, i.e., Block D, Block E and Block F, with proposed outlines subject to change depending on the bidder preferences after the revision of seismic and other data. All the other basin areas in the country are also on offer.          Central African Republic   Blocks on offer             Country   Name         Basin   Names         Block   Name         Block   Sqkm         Main   Political Province             Central   African Republic         Central   African Shield         Block   D         26,871         Ouham             Central   African Republic         Central   African Shield         Block   E         4,657         Bamingui-Bangoran             Central   African Republic         Central   African Shield~Baggara Graben         Block   F         5,369         Vakaga             Source:   IHS Markit         Â          Â          Â          Â©   2019 IHS Markit        Â   Security is still a severe issue in CAR despite a peace deal signed in February 2019 between the government and rebels. According to the UN, the number of human rights violations has been reduced to the half, but attacks and kidnappings are still taking place. The UN warns that since July, the situation is particularly difficult in the northeastern regions.  When asked about security at the AOW, Mr Mboli Fatran said that the political context has changed and that the country offers "good perspectives" regarding protection. A delegate from DIG OIL, the company which operates Block C in the south said that they experienced no security issues when performing their exploration activities over the block.  Petroleum contracts are awarded in the form of concession agreements and negotiated directly with the government. The exploration period will have an initial term of four years with two renewals of four years each. The applicant will propose the percentage of the relinquished area after each renovation. Exploitation period will last 30 years from the award of the exploration concession. The bidder will define work obligations which will be subject to negotiation.  Annual rentals are USD 3, 5, 10 and 100 per sq km and year during the initial, first renewal, second renewal and exploitation periods, respectively.  A 12% royalty is set for oil production and 5% for gas production.  Contact for applicants (by mail or delivered by hand):  Ministry of Mines & Geology (Ministre des Mines et de la GÃ©ologie)  BP: 26 Bangui (Central African Republic)  With the following note in the envelope: "Application for a Petroleum Exploration Permit â CONFIDENTIAL"  There is no fee for the application, but the interested firm has to buy the Data Package prepared by the Ministry.   Contact the editor for details on the required contents of the application.
The Central African Republic's (CAR) Minister of Mines & Geology, LÃ©opold Mboli Fatran, announced at the Africa Oil Week (AOW) event in early November 2019 that open acreage is available for companies interested to invest in the country's hydrocarbon exploration activity. At least three blocks in the North would be on offer, i.e., Block D, Block E and Block F, with proposed outlines subject to change depending on the bidder preferences after the revision of seismic and other data. All the other basin areas in the country are also on offer.