Speaking to journalists at a media luncheon in Perth last week, the chairman of the Australian oil and gas explorer said his company was looking to create opportunities for future partners on its Ivory Coast project.

“We don’t want to be here in five years’ time still working and developing the Ivory Coast on our own,” he said.

“We would like to farm-out, consolidate, merge with somebody in two to three years’ time so we can get some real critical mass and avoid the [dilution] that comes with continual capital raisings.”

Whiddon