Australian oil and gas company Invictus Energy has announced plans to start gas exploration in northern Zimbabwe as early as September. If proven, this would be Zimbabwe’s first gas production project. A way to help overcome these energy deficits in a context of global energy shortages and soaring prices due to the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
“ This will be the start of a very big industry said Barry Meikle, Country Manager of Invictus Energy at the Mukuyu-1 well site in the Muzarabani region. Gas exploration was to start in early September about 200 km north of the capital Harare, near the border with Mozambiquein a vast field that could hold 20 trillion [mille milliards] of cubic feet of gas, according to Invictus, where the situation is calm.
Invictus Energy signed an exploration, development and production agreement with Zimbabwe in 2018. It plans to build a gas-to-electricity conversion facility to supply the national grid.
Concern about the environmental impact
Zimbabwe is indeed suffering from major energy shortages with cuts that can last up to 15 hours a day. This project, very important for the country, however, arouses the fear of environmentalists.
When the project is advanced, there will be risks of pollution, denounces Farai Maguwu, founder of the Center for Natural Resource Governance. “ While natural gas is considered cleaner than coal, it still emits pollutants such as methane which is a deadly heat-trapping gas “said the environmentalist.
He also fears that the construction of hundreds of kilometers will destroy the fauna and flora and cause the displacement of many people.
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