France-based oil company Total plans to establish partnership with US-based Exxon Mobil and Kuwait-based Kufpec to explore oil in the Jonglei state in South Sudan.

The civil war of Sudan in between 1983-2005 had prevented Total to explore oil from the 120,000 km² concession located in Block B in Jonglei, as it holds majority interest in Block B since 1980.

The South Sudan government has started negotiations with the company in 2012 to split the block, as it plans to increase exploration in the block.

South Sudan parliamentary committee chairman Henry Odwar was quoted by Reuters as saying that the area has been broken into blocks B1, B2 and B3.

"Now Total has gone ahead and, with a nudge from the (oil) ministry, engaged certain partners. Exxon Mobil and Kufpec have been brought in to be a partner in Block B1," Odwar added.

The deals in the blocks are yet to be finalised, while block B2 is expected to be held by the same partnership of companies and decision has to take on block B3.