Petroleum Exploration

Since the 1970s, exploration activities have progressively expanded the understanding of Rwanda's petroleum potential.

It is not until recently, however, that deep petrophysical knowledge and the geology settings of the Lake Kivu Basin were revealed from key surveys conducted.

• Geophysical Surveys:  Analysis of gravity and magnetic data of Lake Kivu confirmed the presence of a sedimental basin with analogies to other East Africa Rift basins, and the depth of the basin was revealed deep enough to be conducive to a potential hydrocarbon reservoir. The 2D seismic acquired, processed, and interpreted data in 2021 provided the basin structural model, structural leads, depth, and faults Maps.
• Geochemical studies: the results of analyzed geochemical samples and gravity coring showed locations of gas seeps, trace thermogenic and biogenic gas, and hydrocarbon generation

Exploration License

Competent oil and gas companies intending to carry out exploration activities request a petroleum exploration license valid for up to six years. If the company successfully finds commercial oil, it is given priority in applying for the production license. Any other capable company may apply for the grant of a production license in respect of an area with a petroleum reservoir or a part of a petroleum reservoir that may be subject to production.

Methane gas exploitation

RMB is mandated to regulate operations in the upstream petroleum sector including the exploitation of methane gas in Lake Kivu.

Methane gas constitutes a major energy resource for the Rwandan Population. Studies estimate this resource, dissolved into Lake Kivu Water, is around 60 km3 at standard conditions.

Today, KivuWatt and Shema Power Lake Kivu (SPLK) extract methane gas from Lake Kivu to produce up to 92 MW of electricity. Meanwhile, Gasmeth Ltd. is advancing its project to extract and compress methane gas for commercial purposes

Completed projects

Over the years, substantive works have been done to accelerate the development of the oil and gas sector.  key projects and surveys completed:

• Marine and aero Gravity and Magnetic surveys
• Seismic Reflection Survey of Lake Kivu
• 466 km 2D Seismic Survey

• Commercial Uses of Lake Kivu Gases
• Lake Kivu Geochemistry
• Management Prescriptions for the development of Lake Kivu gas resources
• Lake Kivu bathymetric data
• Limnology and biogeochemistry of Lake Kivu

Investment opportunities

1. Petroleum exploration

With ample exploration data of Lake Kivu Basin which showed promising petroleum prospects, investors in the oil and gas industry are encouraged to venture into advanced exploration works of Lake Kivu Basin. The goal is to join our counterparts in the region as players in the petroleum industry.

Exploration opportunities for Lake Kivu Basin, towards production under PSA:

• 3D seismic
• Exploratory drilling
• others

2. Methane gas and CO2 commercialization

There are many opportunities surrounding the exploitation of Lake Kivu gases (Methane and Carbon Dioxide)

i. For methane gas, there are opportunities nationally and internationally:

• A huge Market for CNG
• Collaboration with present producers.
• Syngas production
• Feedstock for chemical products (fertilizers, Methanal, etc.)
• Residential use

ii. At standard conditions, carbon dioxide dissolved in Lake Kivu is estimated at around 300 km3. Multiple successful applications worldwide attest that this resource can be exploited commercially in Rwanda as:

• Feedstock for Syngas production
• Enhanced oil recovery
• Refrigerant
• Wielding processes
• Production of biofuels.

iii. Infrastructure development to facilitate the marketization of CO2 and Methane gas

• Transportation Networks including Pipeline networks and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transport vehicles and trailers
• Distribution Systems
• Research and development centers