Mahaboboka gas could create jobs in Madagascar
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on L'Express de Madagascar
Illustrative image · Nothing Ahead · Pexels · Licence PexelsThe Mahaboboka natural gas project in south-western Madagascar could generate jobs and revenue for the country. Its benefits will depend on how the resource is developed for the population, at the project’s presentation, reports L’Express de Madagascar.
The National Office of Mines and Strategic Industries (OMNIS) presented the Nigerian company Aiteo to stakeholders involved in the Mahaboboka natural gas project in south-western Madagascar. The company is linked to the Malagasy state by a production-sharing contract for the deposit located in the Sakaraha district, according to L’Express de Madagascar.
Discovered in 2011, the deposit has an estimated potential of between 20 and 25 billion cubic metres. Additional drilling is still needed to confirm the exploitable reserves and clarify the technical conditions for production. The application to begin exploitation received a favourable response from the Mines Ministry, but no production start date has been announced, according to L’Express de Madagascar.
The expected benefits in terms of investment, jobs and revenue will depend on the conditions of exploitation and the ability to develop the resource for the benefit of the population, according to the same media outlet.
Aiteo’s presentation comes after the revival of a bill on the internet and investment, announced on 27 October, and as Madagascar seeks to speed up projects financed with the World Bank, according to an announcement published on 23 October on these projects.
