OREANDA-NEWS. The President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, and Eni's Chief Executive Officer, Claudio Descalzi, met in Libreville.

The topic of the meeting was the important gas and condensates discovery that Eni has recently made in the Nyonie Deep exploration prospect, in the pre-salt Gabon's offshore.

In this occasion Claudio Descalzi outlined to the President Bongo Ondimba the appraisal campaign programs aimed at bringing the discovery into production shortly, in line with Eni's strategy to accelerate the time to market of exploration successes.

Eni's CEO also informed the President of Gabon that preliminary studies to determine the commercial development of the gas in both the domestic and export markets are underway.

Initial estimates have suggested that Nyonie Deep, located in exploration block D4, has a potential of 500 million barrels of oil equivalent in place. The discovery is the result of the application of Eni's proprietary technologies in the promising pre-salt basin of West Africa, where Eni has also recently carried out Nene Marine and Litchendjili Marine discoveries, in Congo. The potential of all these discoveries is likely to amount to 3 billion boe, with possible further increase.

During the meeting, Claudio Descalzi has reiterated the importance that Africa Sub Sahariana's region plays in Eni's strategies, underlying his interest in building with Gabon an important partnership.

Eni, which operates through its subsidiary Eni Gabon, has been present since 2009 with activities in four exploration permits, including two offshore (D3 and D4) and two onshore (E2 & F3).