In early 2020, the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines, Petroleum & Natural Gas offered 22 open blocks in the country (see attached map):          Ethiopia   blocks on offer               Block Name            Block Sqkm            Main Political Province            Basin Names               Gambela            157075.86            Binshangul Gumuz            Amhara Massif~Abbay   (Blue Nile) Basin               North West            82516.38            Amara            Mekele Basin~Amhara   Massif~Northeast African Fold Belt               Afar Area            62997.88            Afar            Afar Basin~Red Sea Basin~Mekele   Basin~Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali Basin)~Northeast African Fold Belt               Rift Valley Block            43054.83            Ye Debub Biheroch             Afar Basin~Amhara   Massif               Omo            30598.73            Ye Debub Biheroch             Amhara Massif~South   Omo Graben (EARS, East Branch)~Chew Bahir Graben (EARS, East Branch)               Metema            29827.79            Binshangul Gumuz            Mekele Basin~Northeast   African Fold Belt~Amhara Massif               Afar            24589.42            Afar            Afar Basin~Mekele   Basin~Red Sea Basin~Northeast African Fold Belt               Block 05            18299.34            Oromiya            Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali   Basin)               Block 07            12254.06            Sumale            Ogaden Sub-basin   (Somali Basin)~Mandera-Lugh Sub-basin (Somali Basin)               Block 02            12232.2            Oromiya            Ogaden Sub-basin   (Somali Basin)~Mandera-Lugh Sub-basin (Somali Basin)               Block 06            12232.2            Oromiya            Ogaden Sub-basin   (Somali Basin)               Block 18            12232.19            Sumale            Ogaden Sub-basin   (Somali Basin)               Block 01            12206.7            Oromiya            Ogaden Sub-basin   (Somali Basin)               Block AB8            12135.44            Amara            Abbay (Blue Nile)   Basin~Amhara Massif               Block AB9            12128.45            Amara            Abbay (Blue Nile) Basin~Amhara   Massif               Block AB5            12108.5            Amara            Amhara Massif~Abbay   (Blue Nile) Basin               Block AB6            12108.5            Amara            Amhara Massif~Abbay   (Blue Nile) Basin               Block AB3            12068.51            Amara            Amhara Massif               Block AB2            12068.5            Amara            Amhara Massif               Block 19            6467.74            Sumale            Ogaden Sub-basin   (Somali Basin)               Block 21            6094.66            Sumale            Mudugh Sub-basin   (Somali Basin) ~Ogaden Sub-basin (Somali Basin)               Area 4            3679.4            Ye Debub   Biheroch             Amhara   Massif~East African Rift System, Eastern Branch               Source: IHS Markit   2020               Â© 2019   IHS Markit        Â   Another five blocks were under discussions in Ethiopia in late 2019. The Government confirmed in late year that a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) concerning one or more of these blocks was pending to be approved. These blocks could be Block 10 and Block 14 to be awarded to the British Delonex.            Blocks   Under Discussion in Ethiopia (late 2019)              Basin   Name            Block   Name            Block   Sqkm            Existing   drilling            Existing   discoveries            Existing   Exploratory Surveys            Political   Province               Amhara   Massif            Block   AB1             9,900            no            no            no            Amara               Amhara   Massif            Block   AB4             9,900            no            no            2011   (seismic)            Amara               Amhara   Massif            Block   AB7             9,900            no            no            no            Amara               Ogaden   Sub-basin (Somali Basin)            Block   10 - possibly DELONEX            12,207            no            no            1989   (2D)            Sumale               Ogaden   Sub-basin (Somali Basin)            Block   14 - possibly DELONEX            12,207            no            no            1962   (2D), 1963 (Gravity/Magnetic). 1992 (2D)            Sumale               Source:   IHS Markit, 2020            Â          Â          Â          Â          Â          Â         Â   Until the update of the existing Petroleum law is approved by the Government, contracts are awarded in the form of Model PSA of 1994 between the government of Ethiopia, represented by the Minister of Mines and Energy, and a contractor. 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. Minimum exploration and expenditure obligations are negotiable as well as signature and production bonuses. The income tax is 30% but will be reduced to 25% according to the petroleum draft being prepared by the Ministry.  For further details, interested companies are invited to contact:   Mr. Ketsela Tadesse  Director â Petroleum Licencing & Administrative Dictatorate  Ministry of Mines, Petroleum & Natural Gas  P.O.Box 751 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  Phone: + 251 11 646 12 09  Fax: + 251 11 646 34 39  Ktadesse22@gmail.com
In early 2020, the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines, Petroleum & Natural Gas offered 22 open blocks in the country 