Officials in Equatorial Guinea signed a deal with exploration outfits aimed at bringing expansion of the EG LNG export plant a step closer.

Government-controlled Sonagas signed the agreement with partners in the Ophir Energy-led Block R.

The deal also involved Glencore, Atlas Petroleum and Osborne Resources, junior players in Blocks I and O where Noble Energy is operator, according to the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Energy.