Rakgas, the energy-producing company owned by the government of the UAE emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, has entered a formal production-sharing agreement with Zanzibar’s government for an offshore gas concession in the African country.

Rakgas will share production from the 11,868 square-kilometres acreage, known as the Pemba Zanzibar block, with the state-owned Zanzibar Petroleum Development Company.

Rakgas said this is the first such agreement Zanzibar has signed following its implementation of the Oil and Gas (Upstream) Act of 2016.

Ras al-Khaimah Ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al-Qasimi was present at the signing ceremony in Zanzibar in late October.

Bell Geospace Enterprises, a UK-based gravity and gradiometry company, performed the survey and exploration work for the operators.