State-owned downstream player Ghana Oil (GOIL) has signalled it is in advanced talks with Anglo-Irish operator Tullow Oil to bid jointly for Block WB-03 off Ghana's Western Region.

“We want to join Tullow as its local partner and are still discussing the level of exposure,” according to GOIL managing director Kwame Osei-Prempeh.

The state-owned refined product distributor last year agreed to take a 5% stake in ExxonMobil’s Deepwater Cape Three Points licence.