Dana Gas PJSC, the first regional private-sector gas company in the Middle East, has announced the appointment of the Chairman of Centurion Energy, Said Arrata, as a member of the Board of Directors of Dana Gas. Arrata joins the Dana Gas Board following the US$950 million acquisition of Centurion Energy by Dana Gas in January, and takes up his position with immediate effect.
“Said has been at the forefront of a high-performing company with a proven track record in finding, developing, and producing natural gas reserves in our target region, and will add a great deal of value and expertise to our team. His hands-on experience and enthusiasm will be an enormous asset as we expand our business development activities across the region, propelling the company to ever-higher,” said Hamid Dhiya Jafar, Executive Chairman of Dana Gas.
With more than 35 years of experience in the international oil and gas industry within design, project management, production and drilling engineering fields, Arrata joins the Dana Gas Board as the company widens its regional expansion into the natural gas industry, including strategic entries into the exploration and production sector. He joins the current members of the Board, who comprise reputable personalities from all the member countries of the GCC.
“I would like to thank the Dana Gas Board of Directors for their vote of confidence and am very pleased about becoming an integral member of the Dana Gas team,” said Arrata. “With over half the world’s gas reserves located in the Middle East, the timing is opportune for a regional company from the private sector to play a significant role in the growth of this vital industry. We have clear strategic plans for regional expansion in the exploration and production of gas, and I look forward to participating in the realization of these objectives over the coming years.”
Arrata holds a B.Sc. Degree in Petroleum Engineering, along with several post-graduate accreditations at various universities in North America, as well as numerous oil and gas industry technical and management course diplomas. He has also held management positions with major oil companies in North America and overseas, and was co-founder of a major oil and gas engineering and construction firm operating in North America and internationally for nearly two decades. Arrata also holds directorship positions in three other companies, and is an active member of several professional engineering and industry associations.
Centurion Energy has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dana Gas as its upstream division, and is currently engaged in exploration and production operations in 10 development leases and 4 exploration licenses in Egypt, Tunisia, and offshore West Africa. The acquisition places Dana Gas as the 6th highest gas producer in Egypt, with estimated gas reserves of approximately 100 million boe.
Dana Gas also benefits from Centurion’s further exploration potential of 26,300 square kilometers in the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt, and from its access to a team of over 150 highly skilled multidisciplinary management and technical staff, plus over 80 operations staff, with a proven track record in finding, developing, and producing natural gas reserves in the Middle East region.