Total and the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines of Mauritania have signed an agreement awarding Total two new exploration and production contracts for Blocks C15 and C31 deep offshore Mauritania, covering an area of 14,175 square kilometers.

According to the terms of the contracts, Total will be the operator of these two blocks with a 90% interest alongside the Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier (SMHPM) holding the remaining 10%.

Combined with its participation interest and operatorship in Blocks C7, C9 and C18, the award of these new blocks strengthens Total’s position in the emerging hydrocarbons basin offshore Mauritania : “This agreement contributes to the implementation of Total’s strategy that aims to explore basins in proven yet underexplored petroleum systems,” said Arnaud Breuillac, President Exploration & Production at Total. “The addition of these new blocks to our existing positions demonstrates our commitment to the development of the Mauritanian oil sector and will enhance Total’s presence in West Africa, one of the Group’s core exploration areas.”

From Mauritania to Senegal, Ivory Coast and Nigeria, this core area comprises half of Total’s acreage in Africa, as the Mauritanian basin remains one of the most promising. According to its exploration program, Total has planned to drill a well on Block C9 in 2019.