and Trident Energy Management Ltd. of fields currently operated by Hess Corp.

For two to three years there has been a trend of U.S. companies operating in Africa, but not re-investing there, said the nation’s Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy Gabriel Obiang. The purchase of Hess’s 85 percent stake in the Ceiba and Okume offshore fields by the smaller companies could improve output in the short to medium term, he said.

“For Equatorial Guinea, for Nigeria, for any producers it’s the same story -- we have been two years reducing costs, drilling very few wells,” Obiang said in an interview in Cape Town. “We clearly have to be realistic that we’re going to be affected by the reduction in our wells, in our operations.”

Equatorial Guinea joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in May, making the group the largest it’s ever been. The nation’s oil oil rig flanges gulf coast production is capped at 128,000 barrels a day until the end of March as part of the group’s effort to eliminate a supply glut. In the longer term, it plans to increase output to 300,000 barrels a day and offered permits last year to bring in foreign investors for exploration. Winners of the licensing round included Exxon Mobil Corp. and Ophir Energy Plc.

New Plans

Oil prices have finally stabilized, Obiang said. “The price that we’re having right now, we’re coming to the conclusion that we need to be realistic and learn to live with that price.” The country is adjusting all its planning according to that, he said.

Kosmos and Trident have created a joint venture that will buy an interest in three exploration licenses off Equatorial Guinea, on top of buying Hess’s stake in the producing fields, the companies said in a statement. Kosmos will focus primarily on exploration and Trident will mainly be in charge of production. Trident is backed by private-equity firm Warburg Pincus and founded by Jean-Michel Jacoulot, the former chief executive officer of privately-held French explorer Perenco.

In a presentation to analysts, Kosmos said limited investment had caused output at Ceiba and Okume to fall from above 60,000 barrels a day in 2015 to about 45,000 this year. The alliance with Trident will enhance the oil rig flanges gulf coast production recovery efforts to slow and eventually reverse the decline, returning oil rig flanges gulf coast production to 40,000 to 50,000 barrels early next decade.

Trident Energy, through Warburg Pincus, declined to comment on the transaction.

The gross acquisition price is $650 million, while Kosmos will pay $240 million in cash to Hess when the deal closes at year-end due to adjustments related to cash flow since the transaction was first agreed on Jan. 1. The deal purchase will add cash flow in a region that’s a major focus for Kosmos, Brendan Warn, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, said in a note on Tuesday.

Tax Settlement

The transaction could proceed because the government of Equatorial Guinea reached a $220 million settlement on “tax issues” with the two partners in Ceiba and Okume -- Hess and Tullow Oil Plc -- the ministry said in an emailed statement on Monday. Two years ago, the country refused to approve the sale of Hess’s producing offshore assets to foreign bidders.

“Hess has been a key leader in the oil and gas industry and instrumental to the country’s growth over the long term,” Obiang said in the statement. “We are pleased the companies worked with us to revolve this situation amicably.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Paul Burkhardt in Johannesburg at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Angelina Rascouet in London at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Herron at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. John Deane.