Solo has a 12.5 percent stake in the Ruvuma PSA alongside FTSE100 constituent Tullow Oil and fellow AIM-listed oil explorer Aminex.
Oil exploration stories were dominated by the Falklands, Iraq and the North Sea in 2010.
This year the new frontier promises to be East Africa, with a handful of juniors active in region.
Talking to Proactive Investors recently, Daniel Stewart analyst Richard Nolan highlighted the growing momentum in East Africa.
"We are seeing a lot more activity on this side of the continent," he said.
Of course the smaller operators have been boosted by the recent success of major oil companies such as BG Group (LON:BG) and Anadarko (NYSE:APC), which have made significant discoveries in the area.
Indeed, BG's discovery was 'very significant' as it proved the existence of a working hydrocarbon system in deep-water Tanzania.
Here we look at three AIM-listed oil firms with big plans in the under-developed east side of Africa.
Solo Oil (LON:SOLO): Partnering Tullow Oil in Tanzania
The Ruvuma production agreement (PSA) covers a 12.360 square kilometre area in Tanzania. It is roughly 80 percent onshore and 20 percent offshore.
Solo has a 12.5 percent stake in the Ruvuma PSA alongside FTSE100 constituent Tullow Oil (LON:TLW) and fellow AIM-listed oil explorer Aminex (LON:AEX).
One well has already been drilled successfully, with the onshore Likonde-1 well encountering thick sands with hydrocarbon shows.
Further exploration is expect in 2011, and Solo recently told investors that it was suitably funded to participate alongside its joint venture partners.
Dominion Petroleum (LON:DPL): Important Seismic Results Due in New Year
Dominion has a significant portfolio of exploration assets in east Africa, with interests in both on- and offshore Tanzania, as well as a controlling stake in an exploration license in the Albertine Rift Basin, Uganda.
It also has an interest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it is partnered with Soco International (LON:SIA) and the DRC's state oil company to explore 'Block 5'.
This year Dominion shot 1,236 square kilometres of 3D seismic in deep-water Tanzania, with a view to identify drill targets on its Alpha and Beta prospects, as well as three others on Block 7.
The seismic results are expected in Q2 2011.
Meanwhile, a separate seismic survey is planned for early 2011 in the Lake Edward basin - which straddles Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It plans to acquire over 300 kilometres of seismic data, in what will be the first ever cross-border 2D seismic survey on the basin.
The survey is expected to last three to four months.
Dominion's prospects onshore in Tanzania were dampened slightly in early December after Kianika-1 well, where it holds a 10 per cent interest, was plugged and abandoned after it failed to find hydrocarbons.
Analysts claimed it was likely that Dominion would relinquish its stake in the Mandawa licence – which hosts Kianika – after the disappointing result.
Madagascar Oil (LON:MOIL): Huge Potential, Uncertain Future
The company was founded in 2004 and listed on AIM late in 2010. It owns five contiguous heavy oil blocks covering 29,500 square kilometres in western Madagascar.
The two main fields are Tsimiroro and Bemolanga, and contain substantial heavy oil and bitumen accumulations.
An independent 'best estimate' puts the oil in place at Tsimiroro at 965 million barrels
Production, if commercial recovery is proven, is estimated to average 87,500 barrels of oil a day for between 30 and 40 years.
Despite its well supported £50.5 million placing and listing in November, MOIL ended the year under a cloud.
Its shares were suspended in mid-December when it emerged that the Ministry of Oil on the island was interested in buying the company's licences.
Madagascar warned: "There can be no guarantee that any price agreed for such an acquisition will be representative of the fair value of such assets.
"However, the company has obtained legal advice that all of its licences are valid and that the obligations on both parties are legally binding.
"Madagascar Oil intends to robustly defend its position."
The company stressed that any deal would exclude the Bemolanga licence, which is partly owned by international oil giant Total.
http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/24290/east-africa-oil-explorations-new-frontier--24290.html
