May 29, 2006 (Addis Ababa) – An exploration well drilled by a Chinese firm in Ethiopia has yielded no positive results, the firm said on Saturday.

Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau (ZPEB) completed drilling the first exploration well in Gambella. The well, which is 3 000m deep, was found to be empty of oil.

ZPEB experts said that the well, which was to test if there was oil in the area, had no oil inflow.

The company, contracted by Malaysian oil firm Petronas, has been prospecting for oil in the Gambella basin since 2004. Seismic surveys began in 2004 and exploration drilling began in March this year.

The firm, however, said that the empty well did not mean that their was no oil in the basin and would conduct further seismic surveys during the dry season in order to drill more exploration wells.

The raining season has interrupted exploration activities.