壳牌和埃克森美孚在索马里进行海上勘探开发

据美国钻井网站2020年3月8日报道，索马里联邦共和国石油和矿产资源部日前与由荷兰皇家壳牌公司和美国埃克森美孚公司组成的合资企业商定了一个初步路线图，重点是在索马里海上进行油气勘探和开发作业。这份路线图将根据索马里在2月初通过的《石油法》的规定把多年的特许权转换为产量分成协议。

去年6月，壳牌公司和埃克森美孚公司向索马里联邦政府支付了170万美元，用于支付其历史地表租金和海上区块的其他承付款项。根据收入分成协议，这170万美元在索马里的成员国之间分配。索马里石油部表示，这一分配过程是未来勘探和生产资金如何处理的一个模式。

索马里石油和矿产资源部长阿卜迪拉希德·穆罕默德·艾哈迈德在一份声明中说：“我很高兴我们与壳牌公司和埃克森美孚公司的合资企业就初步路线图达成了一致意见。这给了我们信心，相信我们有能力进一步勘探任何海上碳氢化合物的潜力。我们与壳牌公司和埃克森美孚公司的合资企业有着长期的合作关系，我们期待这种合作关系能够继续下去，因为我们正在寻求为我们的经济增长提供所需的基石。”

索马里新《石油法》规定，索马里的石油和天然气储量将完全属于索马里人民。《石油法》还加入了一项收入分成协协议，以确保收入将通过联邦国家在索马里人民之间分配，并造福于未来几代人。

在评论新《石油法》的批准时，艾哈迈德补充说：“国际勘探和开发巨头的机会是巨大的，索马里有潜力成为东非近海最重要的碳氢化合物产地之一。为打开这一战略机会的立法进程已经完成。我们现在非常期待与国际合作伙伴达成产量分成协议。”

李峻 编译自 美国钻井网站

原文如下：

Shell, Exxon Team up on Offshore Exploration in Somalia

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Federal Republic of Somalia has agreed on an initial roadmap with the Shell/Exxon joint venture focused on offshore exploration and development. The roadmap will now convert years-old concessions into Production Sharing Agreements under the provisions of the Petroleum Law, which was ratified in early February.

Last June Shell and Exxon paid $1.7 million to Mogadishu, Somalia, for its costs from historical surface rentals and other incurred obligations on the offshore blocks. That money was then distributed among Somalia’s Member States according to the revenue sharing agreement. The ministry said the distribution process was a model for how future funds from exploration and production would be handled.

“I am delighted we have agreed on an initial roadmap with the Shell/Exxon joint venture,” said Somali Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed in a statement. “This gives us confidence in our ability to explore any offshore hydrocarbon potential further. We have a long relationship with the Shell/Exxon joint venture and look forward to this continuing as we seek to provide the building blocks we need to grow our economy.”

The Petroleum Law includes provisions that the country’s oil and gas will belong exclusively to the Somali people. It also embeds a revenue-sharing agreement that ensures revenues will be distributed among the Somali people through the Federal States, and for the benefit of future generations.

Commenting on the ratification of the Petroleum Law, the Minister added: “The opportunities for the international exploration and development majors are enormous, with Somalia having the potential to become one of the most significant hydrocarbon plays in offshore East Africa. The legislative process has completed to open up this strategic opportunity. We now much look forward to moving to agreeing Production Sharing Agreements with our international partners.”