BRITISH energy group BP intends to invest almost £5bn in Angola's oil sector over the next six years.

BP chief executive Lord John Browne has held talks in the capital Luanda with President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to discuss BP's plans in Angola where the government awards exploration rights. BP has interests in four offshore blocs.

Angola is sub-Saharan Africa's second-largest oil producer after Nigeria, with most of its production offshore.

It produces about 900,000 barrels per day.

The government has predicted output could rise to 1.6 million barrels a day by 2005.

Human rights groups have alleged much of the state's oil revenue is pocketed by corrupt officials, a charge the government denies.