NAIROBI, March 18. /TASS/. Russia expects to expand ties with Cameroon in the field of geological exploration, with the two countries already working together on a number of projects in this area, Ambassador to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea Georgy Todua said in an interview with TASS.
"One of the key priorities for the development of Cameroon’s national economy is its diversification and modernization, namely developing new mineral deposits, primarily metal ores, and finding foreign investors and technology companies for their processing in the republic. This transformation is just unfolding, so geological exploration could be an important area of cooperation for us, that is, assistance in the discovery of minerals, assessment of prospects and the economic feasibility of their extraction. We will support the expansion of ties in this area," he said.
Todua also noted that the Russian oil and gas company Lukoil is exploring the possibility of producing LNG at the Etinde field in Cameroon.
"Russia’s PJSC Lukoil operates in the Republic of Cameroon. The company, together with its international partners, is developing the Etinde field off the coast of Cameroon. The possibilities of commercializing the field are now being looked into with the prospect of producing liquefied natural gas from the extracted reserves," the ambassador said.
About project
In June 2014, Lukoil entered into a deep-water project in the Etinde area, off the coast of Cameroon in West Africa. The plot area of 460 square km is located in the waters of Cameroon in the Gulf of Guinea, 20 km from the coast, in close proximity to the border of Equatorial Guinea. The site is being developed on the basis of a production sharing agreement signed in December 2008. In July 2014, a license to develop the Etinde site was issued for a period of 20 years. The project’s participants are New Age - 37.5% (operator), Lukoil - 37.5%, Bowleven - 25%. In June 2022, New Age agreed to sell its stake to Perenco. The final investment decision on the project is yet to be made.