Aminex: From Acorn to Oak – Chapter 9: Seismic & Scale-Up

The data that turned a discovery into a giant

---

With the farm-out complete and funding secured, the stage was set for the next big step: a fresh look beneath the surface. Until then, Aminex and its partners had relied mostly on 2D seismic data and the encouraging results of Ntorya-1 and Ntorya-2. It was enough to prove hydrocarbons, but not enough to map the full extent of the resource.

That changed when 3D seismic was acquired across the Ruvuma acreage. For the first time, the subsurface could be seen in high resolution. The results were striking. Structures that had been hinted at on 2D were revealed in detail. Reservoir connectivity was better understood. New drilling targets came into focus.

Most importantly, the numbers jumped. Independent assessments, incorporating the new seismic data, lifted the estimated gas in place from the hundreds of billions of cubic feet into multiple trillions. Ntorya was no longer just a promising field — it was Tanzania’s largest onshore gas development in the making.

For Aminex, still holding its 25% interest on a free carry, the upgrade was a game-changer. The farm-out had already ensured the company would not be bankrupted by development costs. Now the seismic confirmed that the upside was far greater than originally imagined. A quarter share of a small discovery is one thing; a quarter share of a multi-TCF basin is quite another.

The new seismic also laid the technical groundwork for the Chikumbi-1 (CH-1) well. Designed to test deeper zones and provide further calibration of the seismic data, CH-1 would help convert gas in place into booked reserves — the critical step for financing and long-term planning.

---

---

For shareholders, the 3D seismic was the moment the story shifted gears again. Ntorya wasn’t just commercial — it was strategic, both for Tanzania’s energy security and for Aminex’s future.

➡️ Next time: Chapter Ten — To Be Continued. With the CPF under construction, pipeline contracts in place, and CH-1 on the horizon, the next RNS will carry the story into first gas and the long-awaited cashflow era.

Aminex: From Acorn to Oak – Chapter 7: The Ruvuma Basin Story

Ntorya’s promise and the wells that proved it

---

If Kiliwani North was Aminex’s proof of concept, the Ruvuma basin was always the real prize. Stretching across southern Tanzania and into Mozambique, this frontier play had the scale to change the company’s future — if it could be unlocked.

The first breakthrough came in 2012 with the drilling of Ntorya-1 (NT-1). The well flowed at around 20 MMcfd of gas, with light condensate. For the first time, Aminex had a discovery of material size — one that could support development rather than just prove hydrocarbons existed.

Five years later, in 2017, the partners drilled Ntorya-2 (NT-2). This wasn’t just a repeat exercise — it was confirmation. NT-2 flowed at rates above 17 MMcfd and extended the known limits of the reservoir, it even brought the excitement of oil shows in the mud cuttings! With two wells delivering strong results, independent assessments began to point to hundreds of billions of cubic feet, and potentially over a trillion cubic feet, of gas in place.

For Aminex, NT-1 and NT-2 were transformational. Together they showed that Ruvuma wasn’t a marginal basin — it was one of East Africa’s most exciting undeveloped gas assets. But success brought a new problem.

Big discoveries demand big money. Building a processing plant, drilling more wells, and laying a pipeline to Madimba would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. For a junior like Aminex, already stretched by years of exploration, that scale of capex was impossible to fund alone.

It left the company at a crossroads: hold onto the prize and risk running out of money, or bring in a heavyweight partner with the resources to carry it forward..

---

---

The Ntorya discoveries proved the potential. The next challenge was to secure the funding and expertise to turn them into production.

➡️ Next time: Chapter Eight — Farm-out & Transformation. We’ll follow how Aminex brought in ARA Petroleum, secured a $35m+ free carry, and positioned itself for a share of future cashflow without the burden of development costs.

Why the Aminex Ntorya CPF Remains Critical — Even with a Raw Gas Pipeline to Madimba

Why Ntorya still needs a CPF—explaining the critical role of field-level gas treatment before transport to Madimba via the raw pipeline.

Following questions about the need for a Central Processing Facility (CPF) at Ntorya — after it became known that the pipeline to Madimba is a raw natural gas pipeline — further investigation confirms that the CPF remains a critical component of Tanzania’s two-stage gas infrastructure.

Understanding the true function of a “raw” pipeline clarifies the issue.

---

What Is a Raw Pipeline?

In industry terms, a raw natural gas pipeline — also known as a gathering line — transports unprocessed gas from wellheads to a processing plant. This gas can include water, condensates, sand, carbon dioxide, and other impurities. These pipelines are typically lower-pressure, shorter-distance systems designed to collect gas before it is made pipeline-quality.

In contrast, a natural gas transmission pipeline carries fully processed, dry gas over long distances at high pressures to power stations, cities, and industries.

The planned pipeline from Ntorya to Madimba fits squarely into the “raw pipeline” category: it connects a producing field to a processing plant. But it does not remove the need for initial gas conditioning before transport.

---

Why the CPF Is Still Essential

The CPF (Central Processing Facility) at Ntorya performs field-level processing that is critical to both safety and system efficiency:

1. Protecting the Pipeline

• Raw gas straight from the well can contain sand, water, and condensates.

• These materials are highly corrosive and abrasive, and transporting them through 30–35 km of steel pipeline without separation can lead to blockages, corrosion, and operational failures.

2. Compression for Flow

• The CPF compresses the gas to the correct pressure for transport to Madimba.

• Without compression, gas may not flow reliably over the required distance, especially as volumes scale.

3. Dehydration & Impurity Removal

• Moisture in gas can condense and form hydrates in the pipeline — a major flow assurance issue.

• The CPF dehydrates the gas and removes solid or liquid impurities to meet minimum entry standards for transport.

---

What Happens at Madimba?

The Madimba Gas Processing Plant, located near Mtwara, is a central hub in Tanzania’s national gas system. It performs:

• Final purification: Removal of CO₂, acid gases, and any residual water.

• Blending: Mixing gas streams from Ntorya, Songo Songo, and Mnazi Bay.

• Metering & Dispatch: Delivering pipeline-grade gas into the national transmission system.

Madimba expects partially treated gas, not unfiltered output from a wellhead. Its infrastructure is not designed to manage raw contaminants at scale — that is the role of the CPF.

---

Industry Standard Practice

Globally, two-stage gas processing is the norm:

1. Field-Level CPF: Performs initial treatment, especially of liquids, sand, and basic impurities.

2. Processing Plant: Conducts final conditioning and prepares gas for transmission.

Trying to send untreated gas directly from a wellhead to a central plant 30+ kilometers away is a shortcut that risks damaging infrastructure, reducing uptime, and ultimately impacting commercial viability.

---

Conclusion: The CPF Is the Enabler, Not a Redundancy

The fact that a raw gas pipeline connects Ntorya to Madimba does not make the CPF optional — in fact, it reinforces its necessity. The CPF ensures that:

• Gas flows efficiently and safely through the raw pipeline.

• Infrastructure integrity is protected from corrosive and abrasive elements.

• Ntorya can scale up production with operational stability and minimal risk.

In simple terms: the CPF is not bypassed by the raw pipeline — it feeds it. Together, they create a robust, flexible, and expandable gas delivery system for Tanzania’s future energy needs.

Aminex Gears Up for 2026 Gas Production with Pipeline, CPF & Drilling Momentum

Key infrastructure moves from planning to action as Ntorya gas strategy accelerates

Aminex PLC is entering a transformational phase in Tanzania’s Ruvuma Basin as construction and drilling preparations advance toward first gas in 2026. With the full backing of the Tanzanian government and TPDC, the Ntorya development is finally gathering visible momentum—offering long-term value upside for shareholders.

🚧 Pipeline & CPF: A 30 km Link to Market

The 30-kilometre gas pipeline connecting Ntorya to the Madimba Gas Plant has been awarded to industry heavyweight China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering (CPPE), with equipment from CPTDC.

• Mobilisation begins: September 2025

• Pipelaying window: January to July 2026

• Project completion: By July 2026

The Central Processing Facility (CPF) will be built at Ntorya, ensuring direct feed into Tanzania’s national gas infrastructure.

For context: a 30 km pipeline is modest in scale for CPPE, which routinely handles 500+ km builds globally. This adds further confidence in timeline discipline.

🛠️ Drilling Plans: Rig Options & Timeline

Following PURA’s approval of the rig tender strategy in August 2025, the operator ARA Petroleum has already issued Expressions of Interest (EOIs)—ahead of schedule.

Candidate rigs include:

• Exalo Rig 202 – active in Zimbabwe; likely available late 2025 after Invictus campaign

• PR Marriott rigs – currently in Kenya

• Nabors rigs – in Uganda

• ARA’s own Oman-based fleet – with three active rigs that could redeploy within 3+ months

🎯 Drill Timing:

• Optimistic spud: December 2025

• More likely: January–February 2026

🌍 Government Support + Investor Upside

With a 25-year Development Licence in hand and the full cooperation of Tanzanian authorities, Aminex stands to benefit from:

• Favourable PSA terms

• 50% annual cost recovery from production revenues

• Strong local partnerships through TPDC and regional contractors

📊 Resource Potential: Strong Base, Big Upside

• Certified 2C net reserves: ~0.4 Tcf

• Full basin potential: Estimated 16+ Tcf, with up to 4 Tcf net to Aminex

• Condensate uplift: Up to +15% revenue enhancement

• Oil shows at Ntorya-2 add further exploratory upside

🎨 What’s Next on the Blog

Expect regular updates with simplified graphics, clean infographics, and clear investor messaging. We'll track:

• Pipeline milestones

• CPF progress

• Drilling mobilisation

• Project economics and PSA mechanics

---

🔎 Bottom Line

The pieces are falling into place. Aminex is closer than ever to unlocking substantial long-term value at Ntorya—and 2026 is shaping up to be the inflection point.

Stay tuned for more updates as we track every move toward first gas.

Aminex Ara Breaking Ground: Ntorya Moves Closer to First Gas

Visible steps are aligning as infrastructure, wells, and regulatory milestones converge toward production.

---

A Project Now in Motion

The Ntorya development in southern Tanzania is advancing step by step toward its goal of delivering gas into the national grid via the Madimba pipeline. With approvals secured, funding confirmed, and procurement of facilities under way, the project is steadily progressing along its critical path.

Investors are understandably keen to see “hard evidence” — rigs mobilising, welders on the pipeline, or CPF construction above ground. Those milestones are coming, but there is already much happening that gives confidence in the journey ahead.

---

Upcoming Milestones: The Roadmap Ahead

1. EPC Contract Awarded

The Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the 35 km pipeline has been officially awarded to China Petroleum Pipeline and China Petroleum Technology & Development Corporation. This ensures the pipeline’s delivery is now in the hands of experienced international contractors.

2. Pipeline Fully Funded

The pipeline construction is being fully financed by TPDC, the national petroleum corporation. This reduces financial risk for the operators and demonstrates the Tanzanian government’s strong commitment to bringing Ntorya gas to market.

3. NT-2 Extended Well Test & CPF Integration

NT-2 has been identified as the first producing well. An extended well test will confirm reservoir behaviour and fine-tune the CPF’s design specifications. Importantly, this does not delay CPF construction — procurement and enabling works can proceed in parallel, with the test results helping optimise the final equipment setup.

4. PURA Approval for Rig Tender

The regulator, PURA, is reviewing rig tender plans. Approval of this plan is a milestone in itself, as it enables the operator to issue the formal rig tender.

5. Rig Award and Mobilisation

Once the tender is awarded, a drilling rig will be mobilised. Its first task: drill CH-1 (Chikumbi-1). The same rig will then conduct a workover of NT-1. This is a crucial step in adding redundancy and ensuring multiple wells can feed into the CPF and pipeline.

6. CPF Civil Works and Site Preparation

The approved US$41 million budget includes the CPF, flowlines, manifolds, and fiscal meters. While there has been no formal announcement of CPF mobilisation, satellite imagery in the wider Ntorya area shows ground activity that could indicate early site preparation. This should be regarded as an educated observation, not official confirmation.

Such early groundwork is entirely consistent with the development sequence — clearing land, preparing foundations, and creating storage areas typically begin before heavy equipment arrives, ensuring a smooth transition into construction.

7. First Pipeline Welds

The first welds on the pipeline right-of-way will provide unmistakable, visible proof of progress. This is one of the clearest signals investors can look for as the project enters the physical build stage.

8. First Gas Flow

All of these steps lead to the same target: the delivery of 40 MMscf per day under the Gas Sales Agreement in the first contract year, with capacity to grow further.

---

Investor Takeaway

Milestone	What It Demonstrates
EPC awarded	Contractors in place, work authorised
Pipeline funding by TPDC	Full state backing, no financial burden on operator
NT-2 extended test	Optimises CPF design, not a blocker
PURA approval for rig tender	Regulatory progress, green light to issue tender
Rig award & mobilisation	Visible drilling and well activity
CPF enabling works	Site preparation under way, consistent with plan
First pipeline welds	Physical build begins in earnest
First gas	Contracted supply of 40 MMscf/d delivered

---

Conclusion

Ntorya is progressing through a clear sequence of milestones. Some are less visible than others, but each is a step toward first gas. With the pipeline EPC awarded, funding secured, and wells prepared for development, the project is firmly moving forward.

The next stages — rig mobilisation, CPF civil works, and the first pipeline weld — will provide the visual proof that investors are waiting for. From there, Ntorya transitions rapidly from preparation to production, with 40 MMscf/d contracted under the GSA and a scalable pathway for growth.

Flowlines at Ntorya: How Wells Connect to the CPF

The smaller pipelines that quietly connect Ntorya’s wells to the Central Processing Facility — and why they matter for investors.

When investors picture Ntorya, they often think of the big pieces — the wells and the 30 km export line to Madimba. But the flowlines — the smaller pipelines that run from each well to the Central Processing Facility (CPF) — are just as vital. Without them, gas can’t move from the ground into the plant that prepares it for market.

---

What are flowlines?

Flowlines are short, steel pipelines laid mostly underground. Each one links a wellhead (NT-1, NT-2, CH-1 and the future drilling programme) to the CPF. At the CPF, the streams are combined, processed, and sent onwards through the export pipeline.

Think of them as the capillaries of the system: not as big or visible as the main artery to Madimba, but essential for delivering every molecule of gas to the plant.

---

How do they tie in?

• At the wellhead: each producing well has a “Christmas tree” — the set of valves and fittings on the surface. From there, a flowline connection carries the gas into the ground and runs toward the CPF.

• At the CPF: the lines converge into a small gathering manifold. From this header, gas enters the first separator at the CPF where liquids, water, and impurities are removed.

In some developments, nearby wells can be “clustered” into a shared line before reaching the CPF. At Ntorya, with up to 14 wells planned over the licence life, that decision will depend on final well locations and drilling sequence.

---

How big are the flowlines?

For individual wells producing in the 8–20 million cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) range:

• Flowlines are typically 4 to 6 inches in diameter.

• Over short distances (2–6 km), this size keeps pressure loss small and allows for internal inspection (“pigging”).

• At the CPF, the combined flows enter a slightly larger 6–8 inch gathering header before processing.

For context, the main export pipeline to Madimba will be much larger — designed to carry 140 to 280 MMscf/d over 30 km.

---

How are flowlines installed?

• Surveying & Right-of-Way: pegging a safe route across farmland and bush.

• Trenching: digging a narrow trench, usually 1–1.5 m deep.

• Stringing & Welding: laying out pipe sections, welding, inspecting, and coating.

• Lowering & Backfilling: placing the welded line into the trench and carefully covering it over.

• Testing: filling with water and pressure-testing before first gas.

This is the same method used worldwide for gathering systems, adapted for local conditions in southern Tanzania.

---

Why this matters for investors

• Scalability: Each new well drilled can be tied in with its own flowline, building toward the 14-well, 140–280 MMscf/d target.

• Visibility: Installation of flowlines is one of the most visible signs of progress — a physical link between the subsurface resource and the CPF.

• Low risk technology: Flowline construction is proven, straightforward engineering with limited execution risk compared to drilling or CPF build.

• Cost efficiency: Smaller lines keep costs controlled, while future connections can be phased in as production ramps up.

---

Closing thought

Flowlines don’t often make headlines. But they are the practical step that brings every new Ntorya well into the system. As more wells are drilled, each flowline tied into the CPF is another visible sign that Ntorya is moving steadily from promise to production.

For investors, watching the progression of well → flowline → CPF → export pipeline is the clearest way to track momentum toward first gas.