Morocco: Chariot obtains offshore operator status

The oil and gas company Chariot Limited has announced that it has taken over the operation of the Lixus Offshore and Rissana Offshore licences, with a majority stake of 75%, while the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) retains a 25% stake. This announcement comes on the heels of the finalised transfer by Energean of its wholly-owned subsidiary, which previously held 45% of Lixus Offshore and 37.5% of Rissana Offshore.

The Lixus Offshore licence, which includes the Anchois gas field, is a strategic asset for Chariot. Despite mixed results from the drilling of three wells on this field, the company remains optimistic about the potential of several good quality gas reservoirs identified in the main B sand appraisal interval. The takeover will give Chariot greater autonomy to progress work programmes in collaboration with ONHYM, with the aim of refining the development plan for the Anchois field based on the resources discovered.

Adonis Pouroulis, CEO of Chariot, expressed his enthusiasm: "We are delighted to have finalised the transfer of these licences and to have resumed operations. We see significant value in our Moroccan portfolio, both offshore and onshore. The Anchois gas discovery offers the potential for further development. Our next steps will be to define this scope based on the main resources discovered, while capitalising on our previous work on technical design, environmental and regulatory approvals, financing and gas marketing."

The CEO also emphasised the strengths of the Moroccan gas market: "The fundamentals are solid, with strong demand and attractive financial conditions. We will be working closely with ONHYM and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development to move these nationwide projects forward."

Cette opération renforce la position de Chariot au Maroc, où la société ambitionne de jouer un rôle clé dans le développement des ressources gazières offshore, tout en répondant aux besoins énergétiques croissants du royaume.