Angola invites bidders to onshore oil fields

LUANDA, Angola, April 15 (UPI) -- Angola's state-owned energy company Sonangol said it would start the tender process for 10 new terrestrial blocks at the end of May.

The tender process for onshore oil exploration begins May 30 for the seven blocks in the Kwanza basin and the three blocks in the Congo basin.

"National and international companies interested in participating in the quoted Bidding Blocks, must submit to Sonangol EP proper documentation to pre-qualify until April 30," the company said in a statement Monday.

French energy company Total said in a separate statement Monday it was spending $16 billion to develop the deep water Kaombo project off the coast of Angola, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Most of Angola's oil production comes from offshore projects. Civil war that raged from 1975 to 2002 inhibited interest in onshore operations.

Angola became an OPEC member in 2007. It has 9 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves and produces on average 1.7 million bpd.