LISBON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Portugal has told Sao Tome and Principe, a former Portuguese colony, that it wants an oil role for state energy company Galpenergia off the Central African archipelago, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Presidency Minister Nuno Morais Sarmento carried a confidential message from Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes to Sao Tome counterpart Damiao Vaz Almeida in a trip to the African nation that ended on Monday, Diario Economico newspaper said.
Santana Lopes, who faces snap elections on Feb. 20, told Vaz Almeida that Galpenergia wanted to develop off-shore oil reserves, the newspaper said.
Guido Albuquerque, Galpenergia's executive administrator, met Vaz Almeida to discuss a possible deal, it said.
Economic Affairs Minister Alvaro Barreto, who oversees Galpenergia, said he was unaware of its interest in Sao Tome, private TSF radio said. Barreto was visiting China with Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio and a business group.
A consortium of oil companies, including U.S. majors ChevronTexaco (CVX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and ExxonMobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , are set to sign the first deal allowing U.S. firms to explore for crude off Sao Tome.
Morais Sarmento, who came under fire for taking a beach holiday during his Sao Tome visit, told a news conference late on Tuesday that he had offered to resign but Santana Lopes had turned it down.
Presidency Minister Nuno Morais Sarmento carried a confidential message from Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes to Sao Tome counterpart Damiao Vaz Almeida in a trip to the African nation that ended on Monday, Diario Economico newspaper said.
Santana Lopes, who faces snap elections on Feb. 20, told Vaz Almeida that Galpenergia wanted to develop off-shore oil reserves, the newspaper said.
Guido Albuquerque, Galpenergia's executive administrator, met Vaz Almeida to discuss a possible deal, it said.
Economic Affairs Minister Alvaro Barreto, who oversees Galpenergia, said he was unaware of its interest in Sao Tome, private TSF radio said. Barreto was visiting China with Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio and a business group.
A consortium of oil companies, including U.S. majors ChevronTexaco (CVX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and ExxonMobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , are set to sign the first deal allowing U.S. firms to explore for crude off Sao Tome.
Morais Sarmento, who came under fire for taking a beach holiday during his Sao Tome visit, told a news conference late on Tuesday that he had offered to resign but Santana Lopes had turned it down.
