Bid rounds back in favour as Gabon prepares to offer pre-salt blocks

Gabon plans to launch a licensing round in January for 42 prospective deep-water and ultra-deep blocks offering pre-salt exploration potential. A previous government cancelled plans for a bid round two years ago, announcing that it was opting for direct negotiation. Oil, energy and water resources minister Etienne Ngoubou, who was appointed in February, told African Energy in an interview the bid round would be governed by the new Petroleum Code, which is close to completion.