By Own Correspondent

INVICTUS ENERGY, an Australian firm prospecting for and developing oil and gas in Zimbabwe, targets to create 10 000 jobs directly and indirectly when it commences production.

The company, which currently has 20 employees, began exploration drilling in 2022, at its Cabora Bassa Basin in Mbire and Muzarabani districts, Mashonaland Central province, last year, confirmed natural gas and oil discoveries in the area.

In an interview with the media GeoAssociates director Paul Chimbodza whose company is the licence holder for the 700 000-hectare prospective area, promised  significant employment opportunities in the primary, midstream and downstream industries.

“Employment in the primary production, midstream (pipelines and storage) and downstream (gas-to-electricity, and gas-to-fuel) runs into thousands and can reach up to 10 000 employees across the value chain,” he said.

Invictus is poised to play a crucial role in supplying energy to southern Africa, leveraging its discoveries and strategic investments to drive its transition from explorer to producer. Invictus is poised to play a crucial role in supplying energy to southern Africa, leveraging its discoveries and strategic investments to drive its transition from explorer to producer. The company believes early monetisation of the oil/gas project could bring significant relief to the country, which at the moment is grappling to meet its national power demand, peaking at 2 200 megawatts (MW), especially in winter.