Poly-GCL, one of the companies engaged in natural gas exploration in Ethiopia, has so far drilled five deep gas wells around Calub and Hilala areas at the Ogaden basin. The company had officially started yesterday the drilling of the 6th gas well-called Hilal-7, in the presence of Motuma Mekassa, Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas and La Yifan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia. In an interview with EBC, Motuma Mekassa said the country will begin extracting natural gas after three years. “Unlike the other drillings, the digging at Hilal-7 is special as it took into consideration exploration of both petroleum and natural gas,” the minister added. Calub, Hilala Genale areas have 4.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas deposits.

Source: Ethiopian News January 13, 2017 07:57 UTC