DRC: D-Day for the publication of calls for tenders for the acquisition and exploitation of 27 oil and 3 gas blocks
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, will officially launch, this Thursday, July 28, 2022, the first phase of calls for tenders relating to the allocation to investors of 27 oil and 3 gas blocks located on Lake Kivu.
With considerable potential, the crude oil resources of the DRC are estimated at more than 22 billion barrels of oil and 66 billion normal cubic meters of gas located in Lake Kivu.
To date, the Democratic Republic of Congo exploits only 4.5% of its hydrocarbon potential, notably with exploration and production in Moanda by the company PERENCO, whose capacity is limited to approximately 22,000 barrels of oil per day.
In its vision to make Hydrocarbons one of the key sectors for the diversification of the economy, the Congolese Government aims to achieve a production of 200,000 barrels per day.
Despite the pressure exerted by international organizations involved in the protection of the environment, the position of the Congolese government is clear cut.
It is therefore not prepared to accept injunctions from international organisations.
According to the Congolese Minister of Hydrocarbons, the calls for tenders concern in particular the blocks below:
A-27 oil blocks
– For the coastal basin (3 blocks). There are :
1- Block Yema III located in the territory of Muanda, district of Bas-Fleuve, in the province of Kongo Central;
2- Bloc Nganzi extends in the territories of Lukula and Tshela, district of Bas-Fleuve in Kongo Central;
3- Block Matamba-Makanzi II located in the territory of Muanda, district of Bas-Fleuve in Kongo Central (Western DRC).
B. For the Central Bowl (9 Blocks) namely:
1- Block 4 extends over the territories of Bolomba and Basankusu, in the province of Equateur and over the territories of Boende and Befale, in the province of Tshuapa;
2- Block 4B covers the territories of Befale, Boende, Djolu, in the province of Tshuapa, Bongandanda, Bokungu-Ikela, in the province of Mongala; Yahuma in the province of Tshopo.
3- Block 6 extends into the territories of Banalia, Bafwasende, Isangi, Ubundu and Opala in the province of Tshopo.
4- Block 18 extends in the territories of Kole, Lodja, Lusambo, Lomela in the province of Sankuru, Mweka and Kekese located in the province of Kasai; Demba and Dimbelenge located in the province of Kasai Central.
5- Block 21 extends into the territories of Kasongo, Kibombo and Kabambare located in the province of Maniema; Katako, Kombe and Lubefu in the province of Sankuru.
6- Block 22 located in the territories of Lukolela in the province of Equateur, Yumbi, Bolobo and Mushie in the province of Maï-Ndombe.
7- Block 25 located in the province of Kinshasa and on the outskirts of the city of Kinshasa.
8- Bloc Moero extends over the territories of Kasenga, Pweto in the province of Haut-Katanga; Miba and Manono located in the province of Tanganyika.
9- Upemba Block straddling the provinces of Haut-Lomami, Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and Tanganyika.
C. For Graben Tanganyika, 11 blocks are affected by this operation, including:
1- Block Kibanga Kisoshi located in the territory of Fizi in the province of South Kivu.
2- Kalemie block located in the territory of Kalemie in the province of Tanganyika;
3- Kituku Moliro located south of Moba territory in Tanganyika province.
4- Block Mulula Lubanga located in the territory of Kalemie, province of Tanganyika.
5- Block Uvira located in the territories of Uvira and Fizi, in the province of South Kivu.
6- Block Baraka located in the territory of Fizi in the province of South Kivu;
7- Kakelwa-Kabobo block, located between the territories of Fizi and Kalemie in the province of Tanganyika;
8- Block Kabimba, located in the term Kalemie in the province of Tanganyika;
9 – Block Kibi – Fatuma, located between the territories of Moba and Kalemie in the province of Tanganyika;
10- Block Mpaka located in the territory of Moba in the province of Tanganyika;
11- Moba block located in the territory of Moba in the province of Tanganyika.
D. For Graben Albertine, 4 blocks are concerned:
1- Block I located in the territories of Mahagi and Djugu in the province of Ituri;
2- Block II located in the territories of Irumu and Djugu in the province of Ituri;
3- Block IV located in the territories of Beni, Oicha, Butembo and Lubero in the province of North Kivu;
4-Bloc V located in the territories of Lubero, and Rutshuru in the province of North Kivu.
The three gas blocks located on Lake Kivu are: Block Makelele; Block Idjwi and Block Lwandjofu.
