Zambia is on the verge of discovering oil and gas after results of exploration works conducted in two provinces situated to the north of the country indicated the presence of hydro carbons, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
Minister of Mines Christopher Yaluma said a consultant engaged to conduct oil and gas exploration in Luapula and Northern Provinces has indicated the presence of hydro carbons in the two areas.
The Zambian minister said this is an indication of oil and gas in the two provinces, according to state broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.
According to him, environmental impact assessment plans have already been done in the two provinces and that the government will soon start getting results that will be announced in the next three weeks.
He added that there is potential for oil and gas in Block 31 and 54 which runs from east Africa through Kenya and Tanzania and Zambia through Lake Tanganyika and then heads to Lake Mweru situated in Luapula Province near the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Zambian minister said the government is elated with the development.
Zambia has been conducting oil and gas explorations for years in various parts of the country.