Eq. Guinea sees full approval for Noble gas project

CAPE TOWN, July 7 (Reuters) - Equatorial Guinea expects to award Noble Energy (NBL.N) a full approval for its gas project in the country in the coming week, the vice energy minister said on Tuesday.

Vice Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy Gabriel Obiang Lima told an African energy conference in Cape Town that the company had already been awarded a technical approval for the project.

"Noble has had a very successful campaign... I'm pleased to confirm that the prospect... (and) plan of developing has been approved on a technical basis and full approval is expected in the coming week," he said.

Lima also said the project set out for $2 billion to be spent over five years, with first production seen in the first quarter of 2012. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf)