Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Zimbabwe expects to commence gas production in 2024, helping the country generate 400 megawatts of electricity. This the country will achieve through the Shangani Energy Exploration, a joint venture between China’s Sinosteel and Zimbabwe’s state mining company Zimasco. The project is expected to cost 800 million U.S. dollars and is located in the Matabeleland North Province in western Zimbabwe.
Exploration work restarted in July 2021, having previously been interrupted by the covid19 pandemic.
Although Zimbabwe has extensive deposits of minerals such as coal, iron ore, copper, nickel and diamonds among others, it also has discovered oil and gas in Muzarabani, north of the country.
In 2021, Invictus Energy, a company listed on the Australia Stock Exchange, signed a petroleum exploration development and production agreement (PEDPA) with the Government of Zimbabwe to explore hydrocarbons in commercial quantities and speed up the Muzarabani oil and gas initiative.
In Matabeleland, core samples have been taken for evaluation of methane gas content. Core drilling was completed in September 2021.
A statement by SEE reads in part: “Results of the above works (phase one) will inform the second phase which is expected to be the sinking of new gas wells after a successful application for production special grant status.”