East Africa-focused oil and gas exploration company Aminex is to be led by the founders of private Maldova-focused exploration firm Canyon Oil and Gas.
Canyon's co-founders Jay Bhattacherjee and Philip Thompson will become Aminex’s chief executive and chief operating officer, respectively and with immediate effect. Two other members of the Canyon team will also join Aminex. Aminex will also buy the entire share capital of Canyon.
Aminex has been operating in Tanzania, onshore, nearshore and offshore, since 2002. It has participated in the drilling six wells, with two commercial discoveries, one of which is developed and ready to produce.
Bhattacherjee, a petroleum engineer, was previously involved in Longreach Oil and Gas, which has acreage in Morocco.
Thompson, a geophysicist, has largely worked on projects in Africa, founding San Leon Energy in 2002.
Aminex's acquisition of Canyon, 90% owned by Bhattacherjee and Thompson, through the issue of 80 million new Aminex shares.
Canyon was formed by the pair in 2011 and has a majority interest in a producing well in the Valeni field, Moldova.
Brian Hall, currently acting executive chairman of Aminex, proposes to resume the position of non-executive chairman. He has been a non-executive director of Canyon since 2012.
Image: Aminex, through subsidiary Ndovu, is oeprator and 75% equity holder in the Nyuni Area PSA, offshore Tanzania.
