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British firm to drill another exploration well in Kenya

Xinhua, January 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

British oil firm Tullow Kenya said Friday it plans to drill another exploration oil well in northwestern Kenya's County of Elgeyo Marakwet this year.

"Before commencement of actual drilling operations, a series of pre-drilling activities will take place, including consultations with host communities and their leaders," said Tullow Kenya Social Performance Manager Rob Gerrits.

He said the exploration company will also be seeking regulatory approvals from government agencies, including the National Environmental Management Authority, before the drilling commences.

According to Gerrits, the exploration well is expected to test if there are commercial quantities of hydrocarbons in the area.

"We have conducted seismic surveys and identified a number of leads including the proposed Lekep-A well. Results as well as data collected from this exploration well are expected to provide further information for future drilling programs," he said.

The plan came after the London-listed energy firm Tullow said it will write off 2.2 billion U.S. dollars of its exploration business in Ethiopia, Mauritania and Norway as a result of the plunge in crude oil prices to below 50 U.S. dollar per barrel.

Tullow Oil said Thursday it would slash its global exploration budget by 100 million U.S. dollars, but added that it will continue focusing on its East African business.

"The reduced exploration program will predominately focus on a number of high-impact, low-cost exploration opportunities in East Africa," said the firm's chief executive officer Aidan Heavey in an operational update on Thursday. Endi