LAKE MALAWI PETROLEUM EXPLORATION Abstract Lake Malawi has potential to host petroleum due to its geological and structural setting. Recent grant of oil exploration licences to blocks in the lake has raised controversial remarks and outcry on effect of environmental sensitivity and sustainable livelihood of the people that depend on this natural resource. The lake is taken as world heritage site and offers a very rich biodiversity. Fisheries sector offers over 60% of Malawi’s protein requirements. At the same time Malawi relies on fuel imports through expensive mode of transportation and geopolitics. The paper highlights stages of exploration and production that need to be followed while promoting sensible dialogue and weighing on the positive and negative effects of oil and gas exploration and production. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Malawi has high potential for discovery of petroleum (crude oil and natural gas). On average, crude oil contains about 84% carbon; 14% hydrogen; 1 to 3% sulphur; and less than 1% of nitrogen, oxygen, metals and salts. Potential areas have been identified as thick sediments in Lake Malawi, Chitipa, Vwaza, Mangochi –Phalombe Area and the Shire Valley. The host rocks could be sandstone and carbonate rocks. Structural analysis of the Lake has also proved sedimentary basins in Karonga, Nkhata Bay and Nkhota Kota. Geoscientists have called these basins as Karonga, Usisya, Mbamba, Bandawe, Matengula and Mtakataka respectively. The thickness of the sediments is over 4000 metres, well above oil forming window (Figure 1). Recent outcry by onshore communities and civil society groups has highlighted the economic and environmental sensitivity of undertaking exploratory and development activities in the lake. Wrong and correct perceptions on petroleum exploration and drilling in Lake Malawi have been advanced. The paper tries to put all these into perspective. 2.0 FIELD GEOLOGICAL ASSSESSMENT Petroleum exploration in Malawi is granted after an Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been done approved by the Department of Environmental Affairs. Areas of focus in the ESIA is the impact of exploration activities in the lake and onshore areas.