BHP Billiton (BHP) next year will begin drilling for oil and gas off South Africa's west coast, corporate media relations director Illtud Harri told DJN. Harri said Billiton owns two offshore licenses on South Africa's west coast, one evaluating the deep water oil potential and another, with Sasol Petroleum International, evaluating shallow water gas potential.
"We are optimistic that we will be ready to drill a well next year if everything goes according to plan," Harri said, adding that BHP is in talks with the South African government over the terms of the project.
"We have offshore exploration blocks in South Africa at 50,000 square kilometers," Harri said. "Evaluations will take place to decide whether the final product will be for domestic use or for export."