Total joins gas search in Kenya

France's Total is to partner with US oil firm Anadarko and Britain's Cove Energy in Kenya, in a sign that oil majors are starting to see the potential for a new oil and gas region off the coast of East Africa.
Cove Energy said that Total agreed to acquire a 40 % stake in five exploration blocks in waters off the coast of Kenya.

Interest in offshore East Africa has been gaining momentum since 2010 when Anadarko and Cove made a large gas discovery off the coast of Mozambique. This was soon followed by further finds by British gas firm BG Group off the coast of Tanzania.
The companies plan to start drilling in deep water off the coast of Kenya in the second half of next year.