Aminex PLC (AEX) has issued an operational update on its Ntorya gas development in Tanzania, confirming that the drilling rig for the Ntorya-3 well is scheduled to arrive on site in mid-December 2026, with spudding anticipated before the end of that month. The update, issued on 9 November 2026, also covers progress on the Ntorya-2 and Ntorya-1 wells, as well as confirmation from the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation that the Ntorya-to-Madimba pipeline remains on schedule for December completion. Investors are watching closely as the company targets first gas delivery by the end of 2026.

Key Points

  • Aminex PLC (AEX), an oil and gas company with operations in Tanzania under the Ruvuma PSA
  • The drilling rig for Ntorya-3 has been released by Maurel & Prom and is expected on site mid-December 2026, with spudding targeted for late December
  • Well pad civil works are approximately 60% complete; pipeline completion confirmed for December 2026 by TPDC
  • Investors should monitor rig arrival, NT-2 testing commencement, and first gas delivery into the Ntorya-Madimba pipeline

Ntorya-3 Drilling Rig Released by Maurel & Prom Ahead of Mid-December Site Arrival

The drilling rig contracted to drill the Ntorya-3 well has been released by Maurel & Prom and is scheduled to arrive at the NT-3 site in mid-December 2026. Spudding is anticipated in late December, following rig-up, commissioning, acceptance, and mobilisation of required drilling services. The rig contract includes an option to conduct a workover on NT-1 or drill a separate well, as well as options to drill two additional wells. Civil works on the NT-3 well pad are approximately 60% complete, while access roads are around 80% complete, with site handover targeted for 15 December 2026.

Ntorya-2 Bridge-Plug Removal and Gas Testing Scheduled for Late November and December 2026

Wellhead maintenance on the Ntorya-2 well has recently been completed, with the operator reporting no major findings. The announcement states that bridge-plug removal operations are now scheduled for late November 2026, pending delivery of necessary equipment. Subject to contract finalisation and timely mobilisation of a gas processing unit, testing of NT-2 is scheduled to begin in December 2026, with production into the Ntorya-Madimba pipeline targeted for late December. This sequence represents a key milestone in Aminex's path to first gas revenues from the Ruvuma PSA acreage in Tanzania.

TPDC Confirms Ntorya-Madimba Pipeline on Course for December 2026 Completion

The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation has confirmed that the Ntorya-to-Madimba pipeline remains on schedule for completion in December 2026, at which point it will be capable of transporting gas from the Ntorya field to the Madimba Gas Processing Plant. Executive Chairman Charles Santos noted in the announcement that Ntorya is "well positioned to contribute materially to meeting Tanzania's growing demand for reliable and affordable energy," citing the role of domestic natural gas in supporting electricity generation and industrialisation. Delays to valve deliveries have pushed NT-1 wellhead maintenance to late November at the earliest, representing a near-term operational risk investors may wish to monitor.