Mazarine uses Tunisia as a springboard

The traditional flow of smaller international oil companies (IOCs), many listed on junior markets, that for many years typified the Tunisian upstream has slowed in recent years. Among the few recent success stories has been Dutch-registered Mazarine Energy, which is looking to develop oil and gas finds on the Zaafrane permit in central Tunisia, which it operates with state Entreprise Tunisienne d’Activités Pétrolières (Etap) and local private company Medex as partners (AE 300/16). According to executive chairman and founder Edward van Kersbergen, Mazarine and Etap have now advanced plans to develop their first discovery, as a precursor to developing a cluster of fields.