This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
On August 13, 2019, Kenya was set to approve a deal allowing Qatar Petroleum to acquire offshore oil and gas exploration blocks in the Lamu Basin.
According to Petroleum Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau, the State endorsement of the deal was imminent, with approvals expected to be given.
The deal, signed by Qatar Petroleum, Total, and Eni, involves the acquisition of a 25 percent stake in three offshore blocks, L11A, L11B, and L12, which cover an area of approximately 15,000 square kilometers.
The blocks are situated in a frontier and largely unexplored area of the Lamu basin, with water depths ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 meters.
Qatar Petroleum's CEO, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, expressed his company's enthusiasm for the deal, stating, "We are pleased to sign this agreement to participate in exploring these frontier offshore areas in Kenya and to further strengthen our presence in Africa."
