Total expects to resume South Sudan exploration soon - Reuters

Last month the government said it would split Total's 120,000 square km concession into three parts to speed up exploration in South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan over a year ago.

"We are really confident that we will have an agreement with South Sudan government and with the introduction also of a new partner," Jacques Marraud des Grottes, Africa President of Total exploration and production unit told journalists.

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Ed Stoddard)