In Ivory Coast, the government through its state-run oil company, Petroci, has asked Quest Energy to select a partner on Block CI-531.The government, for several months now, has been asking the company to find a partner and has even taken measures to enable a partnership, but Quest Energy seems not interested in selecting a partner.

The first company suggested by the government was China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Quest Energy and CNOOC entered into negotiations but it was unsuccessful.At present, the government is in talks with Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) for a partnership with Quest. Cote d’Ivoire is interested in a partnership between Quest Energy and CNR as it would permit the sharing of costs on the block even though a deal was reached with the Ministry of Petroleum on the work program and signing bonus.

However, the government of Ivory Coast has said that Quest must secure an agreements with other companies in order to be able to move into a PSC with Ivoirian authorities.

Quest Energy operates the CI-521 and CI-522 blocks, located onshore near the border with Ghana. No firm agreement has been signed so far as regards the assets, Petroleum Africa reports.

Anita Fatunji