Shell, Silver Wave win S.Africa exploration rights

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Petroleum Agency SA awarded the exploration licenseS for two of South Africa's offshore areas to oil major Shell and Singapore's Silver Wave Energy, a senior official said on Thursday.

Chief Executive Mthozami Xiphu said the agency released the two areas for competitive bids in February this year and the round closed in September.

"In the Tugela area, we have accepted an application for an exploration right over 4 quarter degree blocks from Silver Wave Energy Pte. Ltd of Singapore," he told an African oil conference in Cape Town.

"In the Orange basin deepwater area, the agency has accepted an application for an exploration right over the entire area offered, from Shell International Exploration and Production B.V. of the Netherlands."