Zambian Govt starts to issue oil and gas exploration licenses

ZAMBIA HAS STARTED ISSUING OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION LICENSES TO LOCAL AND FOREIGN COMPANIES IN A BID TO BECOME AN ENERGY PRODUCER, AFTER IT PASSED A LAW ON NEW LICENSING FEES

MINES AND MINERALS MINISTER MAXWELL MWALE SAYS GOVERNMENT APPROVED THE LAW ON NEW LICENSING FEES ON THURSDAY AND THE SEVEN FOREIGN AND LOCAL COMPANIES WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN SELECTED WOULD NOW BE ISSUED WITH LICENSES.

THE COMPANIES HAD DELAYED THEIR EXPLORATION WORK PENDING THE NEW LAW.

MR. MWALE SAYS GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUING THE COMPANIES THEIR LICENSES BUT IT WAS EXPECTED THAT ACTUAL EXPLORATION WILL ONLY START NEXT YEAR AROUND APRIL AFTER THE RAINY SEASON IS OVER.

BRITAIN'S GP PETROLEUM AND PETRODEL RESOURCES, GLINT ENERGY OF THE UNITED STATES AND EXILE RESOURCES OF CANADA WERE CHOSEN ALONG WITH ZAMBIAN FIRMS MAJETU, BAROTSE PETROLEUM COMPANY AND CHAT MILLING LIMITED TO EXPLORE FOR OIL AND GAS.

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