• Zimbabwe is about to embark on a historic move by drilling for oil and gas starting next month
• This comes after the country finally received its first batch of equipment after being faced with delays due to customs clearance delays in Tanzania
• South Africans are mostly happy for the country and are wondering if Zimbabwe's environmental activists didn't block seismic surverys

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HARARE - Zimbabwe is set to begin drilling for oil in August next month following the arrival of the first shipment of drilling equipment in the country.

The drilling of oil and gas was initially supposed to begin in June in the Muzarabani area but was delayed due to custom clearance issues in Tanzania for the drilling rig.

According to SABC News, a seismic survey conducted by an Australian firm called Invictus Energy revealed that there was more potential for oil and gas than what was previously believed.

Scott Macmillan, Invictus Energy's managing director stated that the site where the drilling will be taking place has been completed and handed over to their civil contractors for over a week now.

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Upon the arrival of the equipment, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa Petroleum Exploration Development and Production Agreement (PEDA) with Incitivus-owned subsidiary Geo-Associates showed the government's commitment to open up Zim's economy to investment, reports Bulawyo24.

The exploration of oil and gas in Zimbabwe is a historic first in Southern Africa that has the potential of largely boosting the economy of Zimbabwe if the project reaches commercial discovery.

@thestrpeople said:

"Good for Zim. I wish God gives them enough oil and they become. How I wish God can rescue them from slavery in SA."

@sizwe_ngesi said:

"Great news for Zimbabwe."

@Gengezi76 said:

"Are there environmentalists in that country? Because here they would be up in arms represented by Richard Spoor telling everybody, environment first and to hell with jobs."

@MichaelMbathaSA said:

"They should quickly report back home and forget about the ZEP thing. I'm happy for them. I wish them a safe trip back home."

Shell stopped by court, wild coast seismic survey put on hold until further notice

Briefly News previously reported that The Makhanda High Court in the Eastern Cape has ruled that the oil and gas multinational company, Shell, cannot continue with its planned seismic survey of the Wild Coast until the second section of the interdict has been brought before the court.

This follows a protest by Wild Coast residents, which began in November. The residents do not want Shell to damage, and possibly destroy, the natural environment while exploring natural energy resources in the area, such as gas and oil.

According to News24, Richard Spoor Attorneys and the Legal Resources Centre provided the residents with legal representation in their case against Shell. They also received assistance from two local civil society organisations.

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