Shell Strengthens Investment in Mauritania's Oil & Gas Sector with Exploration-Production Contract
On February 21, 2023, the Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Energy, Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, signed an Exploration-Production Contract (CEP) for Block C2 located offshore with Shell Exploration and Production Mauritania, represented by First Vice-President William Langin.
Shell Exploration and Production Mauritania (Shell) has strengthened its presence in Mauritania's oil sector with the signing of an Exploration-Production Contract (CEP) for Block C2 located offshore. The contract was signed by the Minister of Petroleum, Mines, and Energy, Mr. Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, and Shell's First Vice-President in charge of Exploration in the West Zone and Deep Water, Mr. William Langin. Under the terms of the contract, Shell will conduct seismic surveys and exploration operations during Phase I, followed by production operations during Phase III. Mauritania will hold 25% of the contract.
Shell has already conducted 3D seismic studies on Block C10 and identified prospects that may extend to the area of the two adjacent blocks, C2 and C10. The company plans to conduct exploration drilling before the end of 2023. In his speech, Mr. Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh stated that "the expansion of Shell's activity in the offshore Mauritanian coastal basin is part of the implementation of the strategy to promote the Mauritanian oil sector." Mr. William Langin, Senior Vice President of Shell, also expressed his satisfaction with the partnership with Mauritania and the production sharing contracts.
With the presence of other major companies such as BP, TotalEnergies, Kosmos Energy, and Cairn, Shell's investment in Mauritania underscores the country's attractiveness and the potential for foreign investment. By partnering with Shell, Mauritania is poised to become a hub for oil and gas exploration in the region, creating job opportunities and boosting the country's economic growth.
