Liberia's Sirleaf inspired by Angola's oil success

LUANDA (AFP) - Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is counting on new oil revenues to revive her country's war-ravaged economy, said during a visit Monday to Luanda that she was inspired by Angola's example.

After touring a logistics hub for Angola's parastatal oil company Sonangol, Johnson told a press conference that her visit had given her ideas on developing oil and infrastructure in her own country.

Flush with oil money, Angola has embarked on an ambitious reconstruction drive, following the end of decades of civil war in 2002.

"Liberia, which soon is going to produce oil, can benefit from Angola's example in the oil sector," Manuel Vicente, chairman of Sonangol's board, told AFP.

"It's important for the Angolan and Liberian state oil companies to be able to talk and work together," he said.

US-based Anadarko began exploration on July 25 off the coast of Montserrado county in Liberia, while Australian company African Petroleum began drilling last month off the coast of Grand Bassa and River Cess counties in the southeast of the country.

Anadarko has found rich oil deposits off the West African coast, such as the massive Jubilee field off Ghana with expected reserves of up to 1.8 billion barrels.

Sirleaf also met with Angolan President President Jose Eduardo dos Santos on Monday, with the two nations signing agreements on political consultations and recognising the potential for economic cooperation. She invited Dos Santos to visit Liberia.

© 2011 AFP