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14-04-2026 | Mozambique at the Center for GeosciencesCarotes Storage Expose Mozambique's Geological Potential to International Experts

MAPUTO-ZIMPETO– The Carotes Warehouse, located in the Neighborhood of Zimbabwe, technical infrastructure under management of the National Petroleum Institute (INP), has today become the epicenter of global geological research by hosting the Core Workshop, under the EAGE Sub-Saharan Africa Energy Forum 2026. The event allowed dozens of experts a direct technical immersion in Mozambican underground.

During the session, participants were able to appreciate exposed carots from the Rovuma and Mozambique Basins, ranging from deep water deposits from the Paleocene and Oligocene of the Rovuma Basin to shallow marine formations of the Cretaceous Superior, Mozambique Basin.
For the Director of the INP Data Centre, Callisto Nhatuguês, the opening of this "geological library" is fundamental to the transparency of the sector. Nhatuguese stressed that the organization and wealth of the INP physical database significantly reduce uncertainty for investors and technical service companies operating in the country.

Complementing the technical vision, Resource Assessment Director Hezekiah Matlava pointed out that direct visualization of the samples allows geoscientists to accurately validate reservoir models. According to Matlava, understanding the porosity and quality of rocks through these specimens is a crucial step towards transforming geological potential into commercial hydrocarbon reserves.

The sessions were led by experts from INP and Core Laboratories (UK) Limited, promoting the debate on geological samples such as contortions and fluvio-deltaic, marine deposits and mixing of turbidite and contortion deposits. The workshop facilitated the exchange of knowledge between representatives of global giants such as Shell, TotalEnergies, CNOOC, SLB and Sasol.

This exchange in Zimbabwe reaffirms the country's commitment to technical excellence and the promotion of a business environment based on sound scientific data.

For more information, please contact the National Institute of Petroleum, located on Rua dos Desportistas No.259, Maputo, by numbers 21248300 or 839511000. You can also write to the email comunicacao@inp.gov.mz and visit our Facebook and LinkedIn pages to be up to date with this and other highlights.

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AREA 1

Following the 2nd open competition for the granting of areas for the research and production of hydrocarbons, the companies Anadarko Mozambique Area 1 and the National Hydrocarbon Company were awarded Area 1 in offshore environment of the Rovuma Basin. The area is located in the northern part of Cabo Delgado Province, in shallow to very deep waters. The Hydrocarbon Research and Production Areas Grant Agreement (CCPP) was signed on 20 December 2006 and is effective as of 1 February 2007.

PROSPERITY DISCOVERING AREA

Median estimate of 43 tcf (cubic foot trillions) of gas.

4 Transzonal Reservoirs:

  • Upper North Oligocene;
  • Upper South Oligocene;
  • Oligocene Lower;
  • Upper Eocene;

TUBARAN DISCOVER AREA

Median estimate of 3.4 (cubic foot trillions) Tcf of natural gas.

THE AREA OF DISCOVERMENT

Median estimate of 8.4 Tcf (cubulated foot trillions) of natural gas

The Paleocene Reservoirs.

THE AREA OF DISCOVERMENT

Tigris Shark Discovery Area (1254 km2), has 3 reservoirs of the Cretaceous (K1,K2 and K3), the K2 being the best in Orca and Shark-Tigre and has a median estimate of 0.323 Tcf (cubic foot trillions) of natural gas.

UNKNOWN TUGRE AND ORCA (CRETACICO LEQUE 1, 2 E 3), ROVUMA OFFSHORE AREA 1

The complete technical evaluation of the potential of the Cretaceous in Area 1, between the Areas of Discovery Tubarão Tigre and Orca, determined that it contains small, discontinuous and low quality reservoirs, and this would probably present significant challenges in the supply of trade amounts of gas. Of the three reservoirs of Cretaceous (K1,K2 and K3) evaluated, the best is K2 in Orca and Shark-Tiger that has an average resource of 0.323 Tcf (cubic foot trillions) of natural gas.

FOUND OUT ORCA (LECK OF MEDIO PALEOCEN), ROVUMA OFFSHORE AREA 1

This discovery was made in Area 1 by Anadarko in 2013 through borehole Orca-1, whose reservoir is the age of the Middle Paleocene, was subsequently evaluated by the holes Manta-1, Orca-2, Orca-3 and Orca-4.

The discovery is located about 10 km from the coast line, 250 km from the city of Pemba. This reservoir is of Middle Paleocene age and is not shared. The average estimate of resources is about 8.4 Tcf (cubulated foot trillions) of natural gas in situ, according to estimates submitted by Total.

The reservoir in the Orca discovery lies at depths ranging from 4000 to 5000m below the mid sea level, and the water column from about 600m to 1200m. The extension is about 30 km.

UNCOVERED TUBARON (EOCENO), ROVUMA OFFSHORE AREA 1

This discovery was made by Anadarko in January 2011 through the Jaw-1 hole and evaluated by the Shark-2 hole (negative) in 2013. The discovery is located about 25 km from the coast line, 50 Km of the Northeast of the district of Mocímboa da Praia and 200 Km of the Northeast of Pemba City.

The reservoir is completely in Area 1. The average estimate of resources is about 3.4 tcf (cubic foot trillions) of gas in situ.

The reservoir is at a depth of 3500 to 4000 metres below the average sea level. The water column ranges from 800 to 1200 meters. The extent of the Shark discovery is about 20 km east-oriented.