The governments of Mauritius and Seychelles have signed an agreement with CGG Services SAS to conduct a comprehensive geoscientific study and seismic survey of the Mascarene Plateau. This initiative aims to assess the hydrocarbon potential of the Joint Management Area (JMA), a vast section of extended continental shelf covering over 396,000 square kilometers. The survey will gather data to better understand the geological characteristics of the maritime region and determine whether subsea conditions are favorable for natural gas or oil reserves.
The details of the agreement were disclosed by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam in a written parliamentary response to a question from Les Nouveaux Démocrates MP Khushal Lobine. The Prime Minister emphasized that the venture is strictly exploratory, involving no oil production and granting neither CGG nor any other company rights to exploit oil or other resources within the JMA. The agreement features a revenue-sharing mechanism between the JMA and CGG once income is generated.
Under the terms of the agreement, neither government will make any initial capital investment, and no expenditure has been incurred by the JMA to date. CGG Services SAS will fully fund the acquisition and processing of the data, intending to recoup its investment by marketing the findings to oil companies and other eligible businesses. The initial phase will involve a pre-marketing drive, during which CGG presents the project to interested energy companies.
The physical acquisition of seismic data will only commence following the pre-marketing phase, subject to obtaining all necessary authorizations. The parliamentary response did not specify the total investment CGG expects to deploy nor outline a detailed timetable for the seismic campaign. The JMA was established in March 2012 under a previous government led by Mr. Ramgoolam, following a treaty between Mauritius and Seychelles to exercise joint sovereign rights over the region's extended continental shelf.
The area is administered by the Mauritius-Seychelles Joint Commission, which acts as the institutional mechanism to coordinate exploration, development, and sustainable resource management. The Joint Commission has encouraged the acquisition of modern geological and geophysical data for several years. An earlier contract for multi-client geoscientific studies was awarded to Spectrum ASA but was subsequently terminated after the firm failed to carry out the work.
Following a review of alternative proposals, CGG Services SAS was selected with the approval of both states. CGG Services SAS is a French company specializing in geophysical studies, subsurface imaging, and data analysis for oil and gas exploration. It operates as part of the French group Viridien, formerly known as CGG (Compagnie Générale de Géophysique).
The upcoming seismic survey will involve emitting acoustic waves into the seabed to map underlying rock structures from the reflected echoes. While these specialized images help identify formations that could potentially trap hydrocarbons, officials noted that seismic data alone does not constitute definitive proof of commercially viable oil or gas reserves. All survey results will undergo examination by the Joint Commission and competent national authorities before any decisions are taken regarding subsequent phases of the project.
Key points
- The partnership aims to assess the hydrocarbon potential of the 396,000 km² Joint Management Area.
- CGG Services SAS will fully fund the acquisition and processing of the data.
- The venture is strictly exploratory, with no oil production or exploitation rights granted.
