Mauritius and Seychelles Restart Offshore Oil Exploration Across 396,000-Square-Kilometre Maritime Zone

Port Louis, The Gulf Observer: Mauritius and Seychelles have renewed efforts to explore potential offshore oil and gas resources in their jointly managed maritime zone, with both countries approving a major seismic survey agreement aimed at assessing the region’s hydrocarbon potential.

The two Indian Ocean nations have approved an agreement with French geophysical company Viridien to conduct a multi-client seismic survey in the Joint Management Area (JMA), covering nearly 396,000 square kilometres of the Mascarene Plateau. The area is jointly administered by Mauritius and Seychelles following recognition of their shared management rights under the United Nations framework.

Officials clarified that the initiative represents an exploratory phase and does not involve immediate oil or gas extraction. The seismic survey will focus on collecting geological and geophysical data to determine whether underwater formations have the potential to contain commercially viable hydrocarbon resources.

Under the planned operation, a specialised survey vessel will use advanced acoustic technology to map the seabed and analyse underground structures. The findings will help determine whether further exploration, including possible future drilling, would be technically and economically feasible.

Viridien, formerly known as CGG, will operate under a multi-client model, allowing the collected geological data to be licensed to interested energy companies while reducing the financial burden on Mauritius and Seychelles.

The Joint Management Area was established through cooperation between the two countries to jointly manage the extended continental shelf of the Mascarene Plateau. The arrangement has been recognised as a significant example of maritime cooperation between small island states in the Indian Ocean.

Authorities stressed that any potential discovery would require extensive additional studies before commercial development could be considered, with all exploration activities expected to follow international environmental and regulatory standards.

The latest move marks a renewed attempt by Mauritius and Seychelles to unlock the economic potential of their vast maritime resources while maintaining joint stewardship of the strategically important Indian Ocean region.