Oh, this is a "Smart" move to shift the blame, IMHO.
"The joint venture awaits a decision by the Government of Senegal on the proposed deal between Conoco and Woodside."
LOL.
Note, the Gov CAN NOT decide who has the right to PE - the "right to PE" is dependent on what is written in the JOA contract - the Gov of Senegal is neither the MEDIATOR nor the ARBITRATOR of the JOA contract, as signed by JV partners.
This contract (JOA) is a "Private" agreement between JV partners.
The Gov. CAN ONLY decide whether WPL is a suitable JV partner.
Even if Gov decide WPL is Not a suitable Partner, there is NO OBLIGATION on WPL to sell it back to COP to on-sell it to FAR.
This is because FAR Has Not proven it still has a PE right!!!
Note, it has ONLY reserved its right to pursue other avenues to reset their 30 days PE right - as it believes it did not start to begin with, which is totally different to proving it has a PE right!!!
So they (WPL or COP) could sell it to any third party.
The only conclusion I can draw (IMHO) is that someone is deliberately trying to attach our right to PE, to the Gov of Senegal's decision on whether WPL is a suitable JV partner.
These are Two Separate Legal Issues!!!
If you are going to send another email to FAR.
Ask them these questions:
1. How can the Gov. of Senegal "compel" WPL/COP to sell its Cocono Philips BV Senegal to FAR, even if the Gov. of Senegal decided WPL is Not a suitable JV partner?
and
2. Under what clause in the JOA that was invoked (activated) that allowed the Gov of Senegal to step-in (so to speak) to become the de-facto Mediator/Arbitrator of this "PRIVATE" dispute between FAR and COP/WPL?
(20min delay)