Chariot, the Africa focused transitional energy group, has received approval for its Environmental Impact Assessment ('EIA') from the Unified Regional Investment Committee for drilling activity on its Loukos Onshore licence, onshore Morocco (Chariot, Operator 75%, ONHYM, 25%).

The EIA covers a total of 20 well operations, including:

• Initial drilling campaign of 2 exploration wells on the Gaufrette and Dartois prospects
• Further 17 candidate well locations
• Re-entry of an existing gas discovery
• The permit is valid for a period of 5 years
• Civil works will now commence to prepare the first well locations and access routes

Pierre Raillard, Head of Gas Business and Morocco Country Director, commented:
"We are very pleased to receive approval of the environmental permit for drilling activity on our Loukos licence. This is not only an important step towards our initial drilling campaign but EIA approval for multiple additional locations gives us flexibility in future campaigns. In addition to this, the land access activities and civil work contracting have concluded, site construction activities are now underway and we are on track for commencement of operations around the end of Q1 2024. I would like to thank the efforts of the Morocco operational team in the progress we have made so far as well as the continuous support and assistance given by ONHYM."

LOUKOS ONSHORE

The Loukos Onshore licence, covering an area of 1,371km², is adjacent to Chariot’s Lixus and Rissana offshore licences; it is also the location of the planned Anchois processing facility and pipelines.

Chariot operates the block with 75% interest and is performing a detailed evaluation on existing modern 3D seismic data of 150 km² and previously drilled on-block wells. Work has led to the identification of an overlooked, shallow, conventional gas play, which:

• has already produced gas in other areas onshore Morocco,
• is geologically similar to Chariot’s offshore projects including the Anchois gas discovery
• contains multiple low risk gas prospects, supported by characteristic seismic attributes
• is de-risked by gas and reservoir proven in previously drilled, offset wells, which targeted deeper alternative plays

KeyFacts Energy: Chariot Oil & Gas Morocco country profile