Maputo — Mozambican Prime Minister Aires Ali has warned that Mozambicans should not bank on the possibility of oil discoveries solving the country's problems.

According to a Sunday report on the independent television station, STV, Ali made these remarks after visiting the "Belford Dolphin" drilling platform off the coast of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, which is operated by the Texas-based Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.

The "Belford Dolphin" began a programme to drill four exploratory wells in deep water in the Rovuma Basin in December.

Anadarko also drilled onshore last year, at Mecupa in Cabo Delgado. The drilling revealed "hydrocarbon shows", but Anadarko plugged and abandoned this well "pending further evaluation of the well data".

After observing the exploratory work of Anadarko, Ali was cautious in his comments, warning that Mozambicans should be guided by "a culture of work", and should not expect any miraculous solutions.

"We have many birds in our hands and we should concentrate on these", he said. "The hundreds of others that may be in the bush don't matter. But we should not let go of those we already have in our hands".

"We don't want to feed many expectations", said the Prime Minister, "although it would be very good if we did manage to find oil. We must continue to develop our culture of hard work".