Staff Reporter

Invictus Energy, the Australian firm exploring for oil and gas in Mashonaland Central Province, has embarked on some corporate social responsibility programs in Mbire and Muzarabani by providing safe drinking water to schools and clinics.

In a statement today, the Company said that it was resuscitating boreholes and connecting water systems to the remote areas of Muzarabani and Mbire.

“The Invictus Energy Corporate Social Responsibility programs in the Muzarabani and Mbire communities are focused on the provision of water to clinics, schools and dip tanks. At Chidodo village which is extremely remote and near Mozambique border, we have resuscitated boreholes and connected water into the maternity clinic,” said the company in a statement.

Invictus Energy also informed that it had connected a school in Muzarabani to borehole water. The school of 25 teachers had no water for the past 10 years and teachers and pupils were resorting to unprotected water sources that were not safe for consumption.

Meanwhile, Invictus Energy has commenced seismic data collection for its Muzarabani project in order to identify the best spots to drill exploration wells.

Seismic data study in oil and gas exploration refers to the process of using high-tech equipment to listen to underground sound vibrations in order to determine the existence of hydro-carbons.

The exploration of oil and gas in Muzarabani is expected to increase prospects of employment for hundreds of locals, once operations commence. The local tourism industry is also expected to enjoy occupancy from groups of technicians setting up equipment and conducting preliminary surveys.

Besides the corporate social responsibilities being undertaken by Invictus Energy in Muzarabani and Mbire, the local businesses are expected to witness a boost in business. Residents are also optimistic that their growth point would eventually turn into a full-fledged town as the big oil projects take shape.