Lamu,KENYA:Oil and gas Extraction in Lamu East is set to begin by June this year and will be conducted by the Zarara Oil and Gas Limited.
Geophysical surveys done by the same company in 2013 in a 400km stretch of blocks L4 and L13 in Pate island of Lamu East confirmed that the area had oil and gas deposits.
Company officials have already visited Faza Island to sensitize local community on the progress of the planned exploration and expectations.
Speaking in Faza on Thursday, Zarara Oil and Gas Limited Manager Peter Nduru said the first phase of extraction will kick off before the end of June while the second phase of extraction will commence before December this year.
He said the first phase of the exploration will cost Sh.3 billion.
102 WELLS
Nduru said the company intends to drill about 102 wells to extract gas alone.
He said Sh.1 billion had already been spent on a seismic survey and added that the second phase of the well drilling will be more expensive.
He said the quantity of gas deposits will only be ascertained following intense drilling.
“Well drilling up to completion takes three phases and that alone costs Sh3 billion. Between 2013 and 2014 we were dealing with data processing and data interpretation,
Indications show that there could be gas. Until drilling is done we cannot prove the quantity,’’ said Nduru.
Nduru said the company plans to begin drilling by June 2017 since an environmental impact assessment had already been done and the report handed over to the National Environment and Management Authority which in turn approved the project.
The government has given Zarara an 18-month license extension that expires in June 2017 for the two blocks.
