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Jubbaland rubbishes Somalia’s deal with Spectrum, warns the company not to enter its territories

Storyline:National News

The administration of Jubbaland has rubbished the seismic survey agreement Somali government inked with the UK based Multi-client seismic survey company, Spectrum ASA and called the company to review the deal.

Jubbaland Petroleum and Agency (JPA) acting director Abdi A. Raghe released a statement on 27th this month saying the agreement is violating the constitution.

It further pointed that Jubbaland retains full authority on all agreement related to natural resources and has the responsibilities on territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of the state

“We are not bound by the so called agreement the company initially signed without the knowledge of Jubbaland and its authorities” reads the statement.

Raghe warned the company expected to carry out the exploration to enter its territories. “Any such violence will be met severe consequence which include seizure of Seismic vessels and detention of personnel”

5th September this year Somalia signed a seismic survey agreement with the UK based Multi-Client seismic survey company Spectrum ASA hot on the heels of the controversial Soma Oil agreement which has spiraled into a barrage of accusations culminating into criminal investigations in the UK.

The agreement gives Spectrum up to 28,000Kmof long offset 2D seismic data offshore south Somalia in order to image subsurface structures. The survey will focus on blocks owned by the Dutch oil explorer Royal Dutch Shell and is expected to generate extensive data which Somalia will use to prospect for oil drilling deals.

“The new acquisition is intended to complement 20,000 km of existing seismic that was acquired in 2014. These seismic surveys will allow the in-depth study of hydrocarbon prospectivity offshore Somalia, which lies in close proximity to major discoveries on the East African margin,” said the Ministry of Petroleum in a statement to the media.

“These seismic surveys will allow the in-depth study of hydrocarbon prospectivity offshore Somalia, which lies in close proximity to major discoveries on the East African margin.’ Petroleum Ministry

The Ministry said as part of the agreement, which has not been made public yet, Spectrum SA will use its global marketing reach to raise interest and awareness amongst the oil and gas industry.

Spectrum is a UK based company founded in 1986. Information on its website says the company provides Multi-Client seismic surveys and high quality Seismic Imaging services to the global oil and gas industry from offices in the USA, Norway, UK, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia and Singapore.