GOSS denies licensing round, Khartoum wants more E&P

Government of Southern Sudan vice president Riek Machar has denied reports that the autonomous southern government has been calling for exploration ahead of the referendum on southern independence in 2011. Meanwhile, the national government has called on international oil companies to accelerate their operations, and, in the blighted territory of South Darfur, the governor has announced the start of exploration by Chinese operating company Petro Energy.