On 27 May 2026 in Harare, the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe (the “Government”) entered into a Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement (PPSA) with Invictus Energy Limited (ASX: IVY), marking a major milestone in advancing the Cabora Bassa gas project.
The African Legal Support Facility ( ALSF), in partnership with an advisory consortium led by Simmons & Simmons LLP, Mushoriwa Moyo (local counsel), and ECC as technical and financial advisors, provided comprehensive legal, technical, and commercial support throughout the negotiation process.
This achievement builds on sustained assistance to the Government, including a review of Zimbabwe’s legal and regulatory framework for the oil and gas sector, an assessment of the draft Petroleum Exploration and Development Production Agreement (“PEDPA”), and support in restructuring the PEDPA into a PPSA that reflects the Government’s interests while aligning with international best practices.
The resulting PPSA establishes a competitive, robust, transparent, and predictable framework for the development of the Cabora Bassa Project, an initiative with the potential to significantly enhance Zimbabwe’s energy security and catalyze long-term industrial growth.
Building on this milestone, the ALSF’s support will culminate in the development of a model Production Sharing Agreement, a negotiation toolkit, and the delivery of targeted capacity-building workshops to strengthen the Government’s ability to negotiate and implement complex oil and gas agreements.
About the ALSF
Established by the African Development Bank in 2008, the ALSF assists African governments in negotiating complex commercial transactions, providing legal and technical assistance and developing capacity building tools in the key sectors of infrastructure and public-private partnerships, energy, natural resources and extractive industries, as well as on sovereign debt and creditor disputes.
Contact us
Eve Ehoura, Communication Officer: e.ehoura@afdb.org
ALSF Website: https://www.alsf.int