Leagally, approval from government isn't required, it is deemed...

Leagally, approval from government isn't required, it is deemed approved after 60 days if the government doesn't decline.

As for access to data, they are the legal owners of COP (Senegal) BV and have even changed the name, you'd need to legally challenge via courts to not allow them to view the data.

In most acquisitions I've seen in my career, you have access to the data in house to do a robust assessment prior to a binding bid, if successful, you either keep or are reissued the data depending on the confidentiality agreement, and it is only taken away if PE is successful or government doesn't approve, this is to ensure that timeline don't slip by delays to getting data.