Shell, QatarEnergy sign agreement for exploration offshore Africa

(WO) — QatarEnergy has entered into an agreement with Shell to acquire a 40% working interest in the C-10 block located offshore Mauritania.

The C-10 block covers a total area of approximately 11,500 square kilometers and is located approximately 50 kilometers off the coast of Mauritania in water depths of approximately 50 to 2,000 meters.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, and subject to customary approvals by the government of Mauritania, QatarEnergy will hold a 40% working interest in the Exploration and Production Agreement pertaining to the C-10 block. Shell (the operator) will hold a 50% interest, while Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures, (“SMH”) will hold a 10% interest.

Commenting on the signing of this agreement, His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said, “We’re excited about the opportunity to participate in Mauritania’s upstream sector which further builds on our exploration footprint in Africa, and we look forward to a successful exploration program.”