Author: Sean Lange

Maputo, 11 Jul (AIM) – The South African petro-chemical giant Sasol is on
the verge of abandoning the search for petroleum and gas in offshore blocks 16 and 19 in the Mozambique sedimentary basin, reports the daily newspaper “Noticias”.

According to the chairperson of the publicly owned Mozambican Hydrocarbon
Company (ENH), Nelson Ocuane, data from test wells led Sasol to conclude
that the natural gas reserves in these areas are not commercially viable.

He added that the environmental impact assessment carried out in 2006 showed that there were no major constraints to the exploration related to artisanal fishing or tourism.

Therefore, in September 2010 a consortium formed by Sasol and ENH received an eight year exploration and production contract under which Sasol committed itself to spend 25 million US dollars.

Areas 16 and 19 are situated between the provinces of Inhambane and Sofala – south of the Save River, north of Cabo de Sao Sebastiao, and east of the Bazaruto National Park. They are close to the gas deposits at Pande and
Temane, in Inhambane province, where Sasol is the operator.

(AIM)

mad/ff/jhu (195)

Jamie Edwards posted for DIVERSITY SCUBA

So another great dive at Oasis this morning and the Manta’s are back!!! We were visited by 4 Reef Manta’s and also 1 Giant Manta! Also spent a bit of time with a Whitetip Reef Shark. During the trip out there we managed to spend some time with 6 Humpback Whales so all in all another great day on and in the ocean!

Oh well, no sardines to speak of. Many other variants of baitfish up and down the lower south coast – but no sards.
The water finally cooled with the last few days of easterly winds and swell, but has gone an evil colour brown with the upswelling the east brings.
So now we have a cold front on it’s way, and one more lunar cycle through springs to full moon again. A good window of opportunity but don’t get your hopes up.
But you never know…our newspaper’s namesakes, if there are any left, will decide in the end.

Grant Gilmore looking stoked at the prospect of dinner.
The snapper looks to be an Emperor Snapper, great to catch…great to eat.
There have been many different species in the market this winter…Rock Salmon (Mangrove Jack, River Snapper), Speckled Snapper, Twinspot Snapper…and some we can’t identify.

Cobia have been aplenty now that the whales are about, and some bigger tuna involved too.
This nice front will make for great fishing, diving and surfing conditions in the Inhambane area.