Eni enters Liberian waters

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MILAN, Italy, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Italian energy company Eni announced it took a minority interest in three blocks off the coast of Liberia.

Eni said it was expanding its exploration position in West Africa with a sale and purchase agreement with Chevron. Eni, under the terms of the deal, takes on a 25 percent stake in three blocks operated by Chevron off the coast of Liberia.

The blocks cover an area of about 3,690 square miles in waters ranging from shallow to deep. Financial terms and reserve potential weren't disclosed.

Chevron in 2010 announced that it received approval from the Liberian government to take control of a 70 percent interest in three deep-water concessions.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in a speech sponsored by Chevron in April in Houston, that Liberia encouraging investments in the oil and natural gas sector.

Sirleaf said more than $16 billion was invested in natural resources such as oil in the past six years.

Jonathan Gant, a policy adviser with Global Witness, said oil discoveries could bring much-needed revenue for the West African country.