HOUSTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) said on

Wednesday it signed an agreement with the government of Gabon to

explore for oil and gas off the coast of the central African

country.

The memorandum of understanding, a non-binding agreement, marks

an expansion of the top U.S. oil major's activities in Africa.

The company has operations in Nigeria, Angola and Mozambique,

though it made a decision in 2022 to exit Equatorial Guinea.

An Exxon spokesperson said in a statement that the company

will work with the Gabonese government to explore deepwater and

ultra-deepwater offshore areas for oil and gas.

In August, Exxon reached an agreement with Trinidad and Tobago

to explore deepwater areas, marking the oil producer's return to

the country in more than 20 years.