Tanzania Talks Oil, Gas Exploration With Total, BP

Tanzania has discussed issue of oil and gas exploration possibility with Total and BP, news agency Reuters reported Saturday citing country's energy ministry. 

Some of world's leading energy companies are already present in the east African nation. 

Total executives were in Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam this week with Energy and Minerals Minister Sospeter Muhongo, the ministry said.

"Total has expressed interest to explore for gas and oil in the Lake Eyasi (open acreage area)," Muhongo said in a statement, reported Reuters.

Muhongo has also held separate talks with BP officials, though he did not give details about when those talks were held.

Tanzania estimates it has up to 53.2 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of recoverable natural gas resources off of its southern coast, up from an earlier estimate of 46.5 tcf, Reuters said.