Sao Tome would prefer to partner with African companies, including Angolas state-owned Sonangol, for oil exploration, the prime minister of the tiny West African nation said on a visit to Angola recently.
p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Sao Tome would prefer to partner with African companies, including Angolas state-owned Sonangol, for oil exploration, the prime minister of the tiny West African nation said on a visit to Angola recently.
International oil players ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Petrobras and Tullow are currently bidding for rights to explore for oil off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe, as the island nation is officially known.
"If there is oil, this oil is in Africa and it should be for the African people. Therefore there is a preference towards African companies," Patrice Trovoada told reporters after arriving in the airport in Luanda.
The bidding was expected to end on 15 September, but has been extended for another two months, to give companies such as Angola's state-owned Sonangol more time, he said in a Reuters report.
"My government has decided to extend the period for the exclusive Sao Tome and Principe zone for two months so that companies, including Sonangol, have more time to bid," said Trovoada, who was named prime minister after an election last month.
Sonangol has said it is interested in bidding for oil exploration licences in Sao Tome.
