The GBC is the administrative and technical authority of the State, in charge of coordinating and promoting all activities in the country related to the exploration, exploitation and valorization of geothermal resources.

Geoscientific studies conducted in 2008 by experts from the Kenyan Electricity Company (KenGen) in the north of Karthala (Grande Comore) revealed the existence of geothermal potential from the Karthala area to La Grille hill.

Between 2014 and 2015, extensive geological, geochemical and geophysical studies by the Geological Bureau of Comoros (GBC) and the New Zealand company Jacobs, GNS Science and Compagnie Générale de Géophysique-Veritas (CGG) estimated a geothermal potential of 45MW in the Karthala area.

The results of these studies provided a model of the subsurface structure with a schematic representation of the spatial extent of the reservoir, its depth and associated structures.

In addition to the geological, geochemical and geophysical studies, other studies were carried out:

• Volcanic risk assessments for the facilities (drilling and power plants).
• Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the construction of the access road to the drilling site (Bahani - La Soufrière).