Sudan says CNPC, Petronas favoured if Talisman quits
NAIROBI, July 12 (Reuters) - Sudan's foreign minister said on Thursday that Chinese state oil company CNPC and Malaysia's Petronas would be favoured to replace Talisman if the Canadian company quit the African country's top oil concession.
``I can assure you that if Talisman decides to withdraw tomorrow, the first company that is going to get in are those who are now sharing the oilfields with Talisman, like Petronas of Malaysia, like CNPC of China,'' the minister, Mustafa Osman Ismail, told a news conference on a visit to Nairobi.
``All these they are ready to get in immediately. There is no problem.''
Talisman Energy Inc (Toronto:TLM.TO - news) has a 25 percent share in the two-year-old 225,000 barrels per day Unity field operated by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company Ltd (GNPOC).
GNPOC pools investment from state oil Sudapec with a five percent stake, Petronas with 30 percent and CNPC with 40 percent.
Talisman said last month it would unload its interest in the venture if the United States moved to prohibit Talisman's shares from being traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
The firm's involvement in Sudan has been criticised by some human rights groups who say the Khartoum government uses oil revenues to fuel a civil war against southern rebels.
Ismail said many other companies were scrambling to invest in Sudan.
"Let us hope that the bill will not be put into action and Talisman can continue in Sudan. But if Talisman withdraws tomorrow or anytime, I can assure you there are tens of companies who are ready to get in in the place of Talisman.
``Everyday we are receiving business and companies from Europe, the Arab world and Asia,'' he said. He declined to name the companies.
In a move to punishing foreign oil firms operating in the war-torn country, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would prohibit foreign firms operating in Sudan from raising capital in the United States. The bill still requires Senate and presidential approval.
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