* For data see
* Oil output to rise after technical issues in 2011
* Inflation to average 10.9 pct in ’12, 10.1 pct in ’13
By Shrikesh Laxmidas and Vuyani Ndaba
LISBON/JOHANNESBURG, June 27 (Reuters) – Angola is set to
return to strong economic growth this year as a rebound in crude
output opens up new oil fields and existing ones complete
maintenance cycles, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday.
The median forecast of 12 economists showed gross domestic
product (GDP) in Africa’s second largest oil-producer after
Nigeria would grow 9.1 percent in 2012.
Oil output in Angola came in below estimates last year due
to technical problems and maintenance at some fields, crimping
economic growth to just 3.4 percent compared to the government’s
initial prediction of 7.6 percent.
With fields such as BP’s Plutonio back on line, and
recently opened sites including Total’s Pazflor
gaining output, the government expects to produce 1.8 million
barrels per day (mbpd) of crude this year, up from 1.64 mbpd in
2011.
Maintenance at Total’s giant Girassol platform
this month means exports in July will be the lowest since June
2011, but the government has said this will not affect its
growth and output goals for the year.
Continued…
