Sao Tome says close to signing oil deal with Angola

LUANDA Feb 20 (Reuters) - Sao Tome and Principe is close to signing a deal with Angolan state-owned oil company Sonangol to help start pumping oil from the tiny African island nation's coast, a senior government minister said on Friday.

Sao Tome Prime Minister Joaquim Rafael Branco said after meeting with Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos in Luanda, the partnership with Sonangol could also be open to other oil companies. He did not provide further details.

Sao Tome and Principe, mostly known for its key export crop -- cocoa -- recently discovered enormous oil reserves off its coast in the Gulf of Guinea. The country's government has since been looking for a partner to tap into these reserves.

"The oil exists," Branco told journalists after the meeting. "It is a blessing of God and it will soon be explored."

Sonangol oversees all of the oil exploration activities in Angola, which rivals Nigeria as sub-Saharan Africa's biggest oil producer.

Portugal's Galp Energia (GALP.LS) has also been reported to be in talks with Sao Tome and Principe's government on a possible partnership. (Reporting by Henrique Almeida; editing by James Jukwey)