Havoc Partners LLP through its wholly owned subsidiary Calima Energy Limited (Calima) has entered into an agreement with Ophir Energy Plc to acquire a 50% interest and Operatorship in four Production Sharing Contracts (PSC’s) in the offshore waters of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, an area commonly referred to as
Western Sahara.

The four contract areas have a combined gross area of 74,329 sqkm in water depths which range from 200m to 2,500m. The PSC’s are designated as Daora, Haouza, Mahbes and Mijek and are owned in a 50/50 Joint Venture with Premier Oil Plc. 

The offshore territory of Western Sahara is one of the last unexplored deep water basins in Africa. The Company believes that a very large delta was deposited in the offshore area during the Lower Cretaceous and there is evidence that all the necessary elements of an effective petroleum system should be present.

Western Sahara has remained virtually unexplored due to its post-colonial occupation by Morocco. Despite a lack of international recognition of its claim to sovereignty Morocco recently awarded exploration rights to Kosmos Energy, Cairn Energy and Total amongst others which directly conflict with those awarded to Calima and Premier by the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Jonathan Taylor one of the founding partners of Havoc commented:
“We have a long standing relationship with the Saharawi people that extends back some fifteen years when Fusion Oil & Gas plc first entered into a Technical Cooperation Agreement with the SADR. We regard the proposed drilling of the Gargaa well by Kosmos and its partner Cairn to be a regrettable development which is clearly in contravention of international law and UN guidelines and cannot by any stretch of the imagination be regarded as being in accordance with the wishes and interests of the Saharawi people.”