Marine Consent Granted

Tamarind is very pleased with the decision of the Board of Inquiry to grant our Marine Consent and now looks forward to the safe and successful execution of the Tui Development Drilling Project. Tamarind expects to develop a further 6 – 8 million barrels of oil as a result of this campaign, extending the life of the Tui Field into the mid 2020s. Tamarind would like to thank the EPA and the Board of Inquiry for the manner in which the process has been undertaken. Tamarind has found the process to be well managed, transparent and timely.

Rig Update

The drilling project is currently on target to commence drilling in June with an expected duration of about 110 days. At this stage, 3 sidetrack wells are planned, but Tamarind continues to look at the potential to drill a fourth sidetrack well, depending on the results from the initial 3 wells.

The rig, the COSL “Prospector”, will be used to drill the sidetrack wells. This rig is different from that originally proposed by COSL (the HYSY 982) and was formally changed in early 2019 to accommodate a request from the rig contractor (COSL). The “Prospector” is a sister rig to the HYSY 982 and this change represents no material difference to Tamarind’s proposed activities. Further to the information within Tamarind’s Impact Assessment, further information and evidence, provided at the Hearing apply equally to the COSL “Prospector”.

The rig is currently in transit from Norway to New Zealand and, following a voyage of approximately 120–130 days, will reach the well site location at Tui in late May or early June - depending on weather conditions during the voyage. The rig is a self-propelled vessel and will transit to NZ under its own power. All necessary biosecurity cleaning and clearances were completed prior to the rig’s departure. NZ-based crew will be joining the rig as it transits from Norway to NZ, with the first group of NZ crew due to join the rig in Las Palmas, Canary Islands.

Below you will find a video featuring our CEO Ian Angell providing an overview of the project and additional information about Tamarind.

Tamarind is pleased to announce that we have signed a relationship agreement with Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust.

Ngāruahine is one of the eight iwi in Taranaki and its rohe is located between Taranaki Iwi to the west and Ngāti Ruanui to the east. The Tasman Sea is of particular significance to Ngāruahine, as historically it provided a means of navigation, a mechanism by which trade was conducted and particularly, sustenance by way of the food (mataitai/shellfish) contained within it.

Tamarind respects Te Korowai’s kaitiakitanga approach and is committed to working together with Te Korowai to enable ongoing information sharing and mutual education on matters relating to Tamarind’s activities and Te Korowai’s interests in the ocean and coastal marine area within its rohe. 

​Our agreement sets out a framework for an ongoing relationship and to record the mutual commitment to work together to achieve the agreed goals based on the values of:

• Whakapono – trust, honesty and integrity.
• Whanaungatanga – meaningful relationships based on good faith.
• Kanohi ki te kanohi – meaningful engagement and consultation.
• Kaitiakitanga – environmental stewardship, protection and enhancement.
• Kotahitanga – agreement to work together towards achieving the purpose of the Relationship Agreement.

​We look forward to further building our relationship with Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust and to finding ways that we can support their mission to be a healthy, wealthy and culturally vibrant iwi.

As announced in November 2018, Tamarind entered into a share and asset purchase agreement with TAG Oil Ltd. to acquire their Taranaki Basin assets.

TAG shareholders voted to approve the transaction on 3rd January 2019 and Tamarind has been busy working through transition planning.

Tamarind is working on transitioning a number of TAG’s employees to the company at completion of the transaction. As an established operator in the Taranaki Basin, Tamarind has a number of similarly established roles already. Unfortunately, this means there won’t be suitable roles for a number of TAG’s employees after the transition to Tamarind as operator. Tamarind’s main priority is to ensure a seamless and safe transition during the transfer period.

Deal close is expected to be on or around 31st March 2019 and remains subject to regulatory and government approvals.

The Rahotu School gardens are blossoming thanks to the hard work of the students and Teacher Aides! This year they have added flowers to the garden so they can make arrangements and gift them to the community. They've already harvested the potatoes, and the strawberries were being picked daily until they were all gone - delicious. The students made a flan with the silverbeet, adding some mint for that extra flavour. And the lettuce made a perfect salad for all! The bountiful harvest will continue into the 2019 school year with Tamarind signing on to support the Teacher Aide's salary again so that this project can develop further.

Tamarind visited back in June to assist with the orchard planting and we look forward to seeing all the progress they will make again this year!

Our Kuala Lumpur team have gotten into the holiday spirit with a fundraising initiative. 

The Lost Food Project is an organization that collects and distributes excess food from grocery stores and farmers to schools, refugee organizations, orphanages and those in need. The quality, nutritious surplus food is saved from going to a landfill and is redistributed to those who need it throughout Malaysia regardless of religion, gender, age, disability or ethnic group.

Donation vouchers were for sale that provided 100 meals for people in need. The KL office staff purchased 50 gift vouchers to give as a gift of generosity to a family member or friend. Tamarind matched the 50 vouchers that staff gifted for a total of 10,000 meals raised for people in need!

Because the food is all donated by vendors, the donations cover transporting the food to charities, schools and homes in need. Since their launch in April 2016, The Lost Food Project has been able to rescue enough surplus food to provide almost 2 million meals to people in need and prevent over 1 million kilograms of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere.

The organisation works not only to reduce hunger but to keep food from being wasted so the environmental impact is substantial.

You can donate or volunteer with this organisation through their website. It's well worth supporting, they are making a great difference to people's lives!

This is the third year that our team in New Zealand have prepared and served lunch to Marfell Community School at Christmas time. And for a couple of our New Plymouth staff, the alarm clock went off extra early so they could get the hams in the oven!

All 130 students and staff were treated to baked ham buns with coleslaw, fruit and cupcakes. The sun was out so the kids could enjoy their lunches outside in the summer weather. It's a great chance to support the community and to have a little fun! One of the classes even thanked the team with a waiata (song).

Check out the school's post on Facebook for more photos and a video.