China National Petroleum Corp and Malaysia's Petronas are said to be considering bids for Marathon Oil's stakes in two Angolan blocks. Up for grabs are 10% in BP's Block 31 and Total's Block 32, which are host to a swathe of commercial deepwaler discoveries. However, the sale is uncertain as Sonangol has the first right of refusal on the blocks. In 2009 it blocked a US $1.3 Bn deal by Marathon to sell another 20% interest in Block 32 to China's CNOOC and Sinopec by exercising this right. Marathon looked at selling the remaining 10% in 2011 with bids then expected to reach around $800m.
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