After extended talks with ­Malabo’s authorities, Afex signed a production sharing contract covering deep-water Block V in July.

Chief operating officer Richard Bray said “a farm-out is currently being negotiated”.

Afex currently has 100% ­control of the block, which lies south-west of Bioko Island.

This asset straddles a southwest-northeast trending volcanic zone that runs through Pico ­Basile on Bioko Island and Mount Cameroon.

Bray