HARARE – Invictus Energy has awarded a series of key contracts for its highly anticipated Musuma-1 oil and gas exploration well in northern Zimbabwe, marking another major milestone as the company pushes towards drilling later this year.
By Advent Shoko
The Australian-listed oil and gas explorer said the latest awards cover wellpad construction, civil works, logistics, access road upgrades and water supply infrastructure, keeping the company on track to spud the high-impact exploration well in the second half of 2026.
The announcement signals that preparations have now entered the field execution phase, with multiple workstreams progressing simultaneously ahead of drilling in the Cabora Bassa Basin.
Construction and mobilisation underway
Invictus said contractors will begin constructing the Musuma-1 wellpad while upgrading roads capable of supporting the movement of heavy drilling equipment. Water supply infrastructure required for drilling operations will also be established.
The company has completed the evaluation of suppliers for the remaining long-lead equipment, including wellheads and tubulars, with contract awards expected soon. Once finalised, all major procurement required for the exploration well will be in place.
Meanwhile, drilling contractor Exalo Drilling S.A. is mobilising personnel to Zimbabwe to begin in-country setup and carry out critical maintenance on Rig 202, ahead of its planned move to the Musuma-1 wellsite.
Invictus added that evaluations for drilling and well services contracts are at an advanced stage, while logistics plans covering the movement of equipment, materials and personnel from neighbouring countries have already been prepared.
Invictus confident of H2 drilling target
Invictus Managing Director Scott Macmillan said the latest contract awards represent an important step towards drilling one of the company’s most significant exploration prospects.
“Awarding wellpad construction, civils, road upgrade, water supply, long-lead equipment and logistics contracts represents an important step in our preparations for the Musuma-1 exploration well,” Macmillan said.
“These allow us to move into the field execution phase and ensure the necessary infrastructure, equipment and mobilisation planning are in place ahead of drilling.“
He said securing the remaining long-lead equipment was another important procurement milestone.
“We are also pleased that Exalo S.A. is mobilising its team this week to commence in-country setup and critical maintenance activities for Rig 202 ahead of its planned move to the Musuma-1 wellpad.”
Macmillan said the company expects to award the remaining well services contracts in the coming weeks.
“The evaluation of well services provision is well advanced, and we are targeting award of these remaining scopes in coming weeks. The Company remains on track to spud Musuma-1 in H2 2026.”
Why Musuma-1 matters
Musuma-1 is the first high-impact exploration well to be drilled outside the Mukuyu gas-condensate discovery area, opening a new chapter in the exploration of Zimbabwe’s Cabora Bassa Basin.
Unlike Mukuyu, which confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons, Musuma-1 will test a different geological play identified through the CB23 seismic survey. Success could unlock a significant new resource base across the eastern section of Invictus’s licence area.
The company estimates the prospect contains a gross mean unrisked prospective resource of 1.2 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas and 73 million barrels of condensate. However, these estimates remain prospective and will require successful drilling, appraisal and evaluation before any commercial discovery can be confirmed.
If successful, Musuma-1 could significantly expand Zimbabwe’s known hydrocarbon potential and strengthen the country’s long-term ambitions of developing a domestic oil and gas industry.
Traditional ceremonies before drilling
Before construction begins, Invictus said traditional and cultural ceremonies will be held at the Musuma-1 wellsite in line with local customs before heavy equipment is moved onto the location.
With infrastructure works, procurement, rig preparations and logistics now progressing in parallel, Invictus says it remains firmly on course to begin drilling in the second half of 2026.
For Zimbabwe, the campaign represents another closely watched step in the country’s journey to determine whether the Cabora Bassa Basin can evolve into one of southern Africa’s next significant oil and gas-producing regions.
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