Left waiting at the altar in Madagascar
The country’s efforts to kickstart offshore exploration have hit a snag
The Madagascar licensing round was launched and ready to roll, but then one partner went missing. New president Andry Rajoelina, sworn into office in January, decided he wanted to have another look at a process drawn up under his predecessor and has suspended it until further notice. A statement issued on behalf of Madagascar's state hydrocarbons firm Omnis on 15 February gave no indication of when, or if the process would resume. "Omnis in partnership with TGS and BGP, regret to inform you that following the decision from the newly elected government, the 2018/2019 Madagascar Licensing Round involving 44 blocks in the Morondava basin is suspended until further notification," it said. The co

Also in this section
15 May 2025
Financial problems, lack of exploration success and political dogma cause uncertainty across much of the region
14 May 2025
The invisible hand of the market has seen increasing transparency but much more needs to be done to build a better understanding
13 May 2025
A fall in Venezuelan output drives overall production lower, as Saudi Arabia starts to slowly bring more crude to the market
12 May 2025
With the gas industry’s staunchest advocates and opponents taking brutal blows, the sector looks like treading a path of insipid indifference