A Royal Dutch Shell PLC subsidiary has offered to buy Cove Energy PLC for $1.6 billion in a move that would mark Shell’s entry into Mozambique and Kenya. Cove also has holdings in Tanzania where Shell already has a presence.
The transaction remains subject to approval by Cove shareholders and by Mozambique regulators. Cove’s board of directors said it would recommend shareholders accept the offer from Shell Exploration and Production BV, also known as Shell Bidco.
Both Mozambique and Kenya have potential for LNG exports. On Jan. 5, Cove announced it planned a formal sale process for the company, which has offices in London and Dublin.
Cove holds 8.5% interest in the 2.6-million-acre Offshore Area 1 off Mozambique. Anadarko Petroleum Corp. operates the Offshore Area 1 in the Rovuma basin with a 36.5% working interest (OGJ Online, Jan. 17, 2012).
Anadarko last year estimated that the deepwater Rovuma basin, which includes the Windjammer, Barqentine, Lagosta, and Camarao complex, has at least 10 tcf of recoverable gas (OGJ Online, Oct. 5, 2011).
Other partners are Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 Ltd. 20%, BPRL Ventures Mozambique BV 10%, Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 Ltd. 10%. Mozambique’s Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos EP’s 15% interest is carried through the exploration phase.
