Amid the hills of western Madagascar, villagers have long been aware of a thick sticky substance naturally seeping out of the ground.
But it is only recently that these unconventional oil deposits in the region of Melaky have attracted the attention of investors.
The rising prices of oil on world markets, coupled with new technologies aim to turn the Indian Ocean island – famous for its unique habitat and wildlife – into a significant oil producer.
Tsimiroro is extremely remote – even by the vast island’s standards – and most of Madagascar Oil’s estimated 100 employees are flown by small plane from the capital, Antanarivo, 300km (about 185 miles) to the east of the oil field.
“Currently I work three weeks on the site and get one week off,” says a 48 year old oil worker as he arrives at Tsimiroro airstrip after a week in Antananarivo with his wife in children.