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Dublin and London-listed group Tullow Oil has acquired a 50 per cent interest in a number of licences covering the East African Rift Basins of Kenya and Ethiopia, an area of 97,000 sq km.

The company has signed agreements with Africa Oil to gain a 50 per cent interest in five licences; Blocks 10BB, 10A, 12A and 13T in Kenya and the South Omo Block in Ethiopia.