More than 20 years ago, African Energy was reporting on hopes for exploration outside the Lower Congo Basin. Issue 1, in April 1998, reported plans for a licensing round to offer blocks 26-30, backed by 2D seismic from Western Geophysical, but the focus at the time was on the big signature bonuses expected for blocks 31-33, badly needed by the government and Sonangol as civil war continued onshore.