(Corrects name in headline.)

Cobalt International Energy Inc. (CIE) has never discussed or even considered a joint venture with Angola’s state-owned oil company Sonangol EP to explore for oil in Cuba, Cobalt spokeswoman Lynne Hackedorn said.

“Cobalt is a U.S. company and cannot conduct business in Cuba, per U.S. laws,” Hackedorn said today in an e-mailed statement.

Novo Jornal reported today, citing an unidentified official at Sonangol, that the country’s Minister of Economic Coordination, Manuel Vicente, traveled to Cuba last week to discuss Sonangol’s access to the island’s oil sector. The Luanda-based newspaper said Sonangol may seek to carry out a venture with Cobalt for Cuba.

To contact the reporter on this story: Henrique Almeida in Lisbon at halmeida5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jerrold Colten at jcolten@bloomberg.net