TotalEnergies expands presence in South Africa’s Orange Basin with new offshore exploration license

TotalEnergies has signed, together with its partner QatarEnergy, an agreement to acquire participating interests in Block 3B/4B, offshore South Africa, from Africa Oil South Africa, Azinam (a wholly owned subsidiary of Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas) and Ricocure.

Following completion of the transaction, TotalEnergies will hold a 33% participating interest in Block 3B/4B and assume operatorship, while QatarEnergy will hold a 24% interest, the French energy major said on Wednesday.

The remaining interests will be held by existing license holders, Africa Oil SA (17%), Ricocure (19.75%) and Azinam (6.25%). The transaction is subject to final approvals from relevant authorities, TotalEnergies said in a statement.

Located within the prolific Orange basin, 200 km off the western coast of South Africa, Block 3B/4B covers an area of 17,581 km2. Block 3B/4B is adjacent to the DWOB license operated by TotalEnergies (50%) alongside QatarEnergy (30%) and Sezigyn (20%).

“Following the Venus success in Namibia, TotalEnergies is continuing to progress its Exploration effort in the Orange Basin, by entering this promising exploration license in South Africa”, said Kevin McLachlan, Senior Vice-President Exploration of TotalEnergies.

TotalEnergies has been present in South Africa since 1954, when it started distributing petroleum products. The company is a leading player in renewables, fuel marketing and services, lubricant blending, refining and exploration & production in the country. The company is scheduled to develop a 120 MW solar plant and a 140 MW wind farm in the Northern Cape province to supply green electricity to the Sasol’s Secunda site, where Air Liquide operates the biggest oxygen production site in the world.