Invictus Energy has begun preparing the wellpad for its Musuma 1 exploration well in the Cabora Bassa Basin, marking a decisive step toward what could become Zimbabwe’s first commercial oil and gas production and putting the nation firmly on the global energy map, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The Australian explorer announced that surveying of the wellsite and wellpad location is complete, with civil works tendering and access activities now advancing. Geotechnical and water boreholes will be drilled ahead of construction to support engineering design and groundwater assessment. Rig mobilisation and move planning have also commenced, setting the stage for a drilling campaign targeted for the second half of 2026.
“Commencing early site works and rig planning activities positions the Company well for an efficient drilling campaign in the second half of 2026,” Managing Director Scott Macmillan said.
Musuma 1 is no wild gamble. The prospect was selected based on strong direct hydrocarbon indicators identified in seismic data, including updip brightening and a consistent “flat spot”, a horizontal reflector that signals a gas water contact, observed across multiple seismic lines and survey vintages.
“The prospect is supported by seismic amplitude anomalies and structural definition identified on the CB23 seismic survey, and is considered one of the key follow-up exploration opportunities in the Basin,” Macmillan said.
The well targets 1.2 trillion cubic feet of gas and 73 million barrels of condensate on a gross mean unrisked basis. Success would unlock a new play fairway in the eastern portion of Invictus’ 360,000-hectare acreage, building on the already proven Mukuyu gas field, described by Wood Mackenzie as the second largest petroleum find in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023.
“Musuma 1 is a compelling prospect with material scale and the potential to build on the success of the Mukuyu gas condensate discovery,” Macmillan added.
The Cabora Bassa Basin is one of the last underexplored large frontier rift basins in onshore Africa. Invictus holds an 80 per cent interest in the project through its subsidiary Geo Associates, with Zimbabwe’s Mutapa Investment Fund holding the remaining 20 per cent. A successful discovery at Musuma would expand the country’s resource base and accelerate the path to early production.
Invictus has already secured an Environmental Impact Assessment permit for a gas-to-power pilot project at Eureka Gold Mine as a proof of concept. That scheme, combined with the Mukuyu discovery and now Musuma, lays the foundation for full field development and early gas monetisation.
The company is simultaneously engaging with potential drilling and oilfield service providers, with contract awards targeted for June 2026. The well is designed as a simple, low-cost vertical well to a planned depth of approximately 1,500 metres, targeting the shallow Dande Formation, the same interval that showed residual hydrocarbons and good reservoir quality during Mukuyu 2 drilling.
“We remain focused on advancing preparations for the well while continuing engagement with stakeholders, contractors, and government authorities in support of the upcoming drilling programme,” Macmillan said.
Invictus has scheduled the execution of its Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement with the Government of Zimbabwe for April, though a specific date remains unannounced by Harare. Once signed, the PPSA will serve as the model contract for all future petroleum activity in Zimbabwe, providing the legal and fiscal certainty that international investors demand.
With the wellpad now under preparation, rig contracts nearing award, and the PPSA expected imminently, Zimbabwe stands at the threshold of a new industry.
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