![[Senegal] FAR, Glencore sign MoU for full allocation of Sangomar Field crude oil shares](Images/Key Industry Images/OilandGas.jpg)
[Senegal] FAR, Glencore sign MoU for full allocation of Sangomar Field crude oil shares
Australia's FAR Limited has signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Glencore Energy (UK) for the full allocation of the Company’s share of crude oil from the Sangomar Field, offshore Senegal.
The binding MoU between FAR and Glencore, which is subject to the negotiation of final documentation consistent with industry standards, provides FAR with access to the extensive marketing and offtake resources of one of the world’s leading marketers of crude oil.
FAR will benefit from Glencore’s global network and multi-decades expertise in the oil and gas landscape, including access to Glencore’s unprecedented track record in successfully creating markets for new qualities of crudes, thereby maximising the intrinsic value of the Sangomar barrels.
Provided Glencore remains a lender to FAR (as described in the FAR ASX release of 20 January), the offtake is expected to be for a period of 7 years following first oil with a minimum of 20 million barrels (representing FAR’s share of the project) expected to be produced during that time.
Following the Joint Venture (“JV”) partners’ announcements that their FID’s (final investment decisions) had been taken and further to the update provided in FAR’s ASX release of 20 January, the operator has reported that the full notice to proceed (FNTP) has been issued to the key contractors for commencement of the Sangomar Field development.
Orders have been placed for long lead items for the drilling and related completions, with drilling planned to commence at the end of Q1, 2021. Diamond Offshore has been awarded the contract for the development drilling, including an additional evaluation well on either the FAN or SNE North discoveries, prior to the commencement of the development drilling.
The final location will be chosen during 2020 following the processing and interpretation of the recently acquired 3D seismic data over the development, FAN and SNE North areas. The processing of this new data is progressing to schedule. The Sangomar Development Phase 1 capital expenditure and operating expenditure estimates remain unchanged from those presented in the Exploitation Plan submission in October 2019. Work continues on plans for development of the gas in the Sangomar Field and a concept select decision is likely to be made by the JV in Q3 of this year.
FAR’s 2020 social programs in Senegal are currently being finalised and are to include two school renovations, micro financing for female organisations, mosquito nets to local villages, anti-malaria kits and football gear and footballs for the youth in local communities.
As the Sangomar Field development progresses, the opportunities for local businesses to be engaged by FAR, the JV and other contractors will grow. Next month the Sangomar Field JV is to finalise a review of all social investment partners for 2020-2022 and continue stakeholder engagement related to the development project entering the execution phase.
