Muzarabani-Mbire oil exploration starts     The long awaited Invictus Energy Zimbabwe (IVZ)’s oil and gas exploration works targeting the Muzarabani and Mbire Districts of Mashonaland Central Province basin will soon commence after Government issued the company with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licence. This was revealed The announcement “The company is very pleased to have the Environment Impact Assessment and our Environment Management Plan approved He also paid credit to the ease  of doing business mantra introduced “The support and feedback we have received demonstrates the cooperation of stakeholders and shareholder who are all determined to advance this project for the benefit of the community and the country,” he said. Macmillan further explained that “the approval of the Environmental Management Plan concludes the permitting requirements and enables the company to commence and undertake in the field including seismic acquisition and exploration drilling. Macmillan said the EIA study was conducted “The EIA survey conducted “The EIA assessment included field surveys and baseline measurements of hydrology, ecology environment, archaeological, hydrological, soil surveys and socio-economic and community consultations of key stakeholders, local leaders, relevant government ministries,” said Macmillan. Macmillan also said there was overwhelming community participation during the EIA information sessions. “The company is also grateful for the reception and support we have received from the local community for the project to date and for our forward exploration programme. The community information sessions were well attended with up to 1,000 participants at some meetings. “The local communities in the Muzarabani and Mbire Districts of Mashonaland Central Province have expressed their full support for the project,” he said. Macmillan further revealed that consultations with Non-Governmental Organisations and private commercial players were successfully held and “… expressed their full support as well as identifying areas of potential future collaboration in the project area and with the local community programs.” IVZ on its official website writes that the Cabora Bassa Basin in northern Zimbabwe, “seismically defined, and undrilled, it is also potentially the largest structure of its kind onshore Africa. “The project has unique combination of low-cost entry, long dated and fairly low cost work commitments, given the onshore location with good infrastructure, substantial scale in terms of prospectivity and running room upon success, coupled with multiple monetisation pathways.”