The oil and gas exploration and production firm Aminex Plc has confirmed that it will be developing its recent Kiliwani North discovery in Tanzania as a commercially viable gas field.

Following on from last month's successful tests, which saw the Kiliwani North-1 well produce 40 million cubic feet of gas a day, the company has decided to fast-track operations at the site with the aim of commercialising it as soon as possible.

As such, Aminex representatives are now in discussions with officials of the Tanzanian government, specifically to gain permission to carve a separate appraisal area for the two wells at Kiliwani North without compromising nearby sites.

At the same time, the company intends to explore a number of other prospects within the region, with estimates pointing to a potential of one trillion feet of gas within the Lower Cretaceous sands.

Notably, it is confident that the first drilling at its operations in the 12,000-square kilometre Ruvuma Basin site will commence early next year, with the project to be run in partnership with Tullow Oil.