ANGOLA POWERS AHEAD WITH GAS BREAKTHROUGH, OIL BOOST, AND WORKFORCE REVOLUTION

Angola boosts its energy future with a major gas find, new training center, and extended oil production deal.

Angola Energy future Gas reserves Building human capital Oil production Major milestones.

Angola is charting a bold course for its energy future through a coordinated push across exploration, training, and production expansion. In a week of major milestones, the country announced its first dedicated offshore gas discovery, launched a state-of-the-art oil and gas training facility, and extended a critical production agreement aimed at unlocking hundreds of millions of barrels of oil.

The National Agency of Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG), together with Azule Energy and its consortium partners, revealed the discovery of significant gas reserves at the Gajajeira-01 exploration well in Block 1/14 of the Lower Congo Basin. Operated by Azule Energy (35%), in collaboration with Equinor (30%), Sonangol E&P (25%), and Acrep S.A. (10%), the well has unearthed an estimated 1 trillion cubic feet of gas and 100 million barrels of condensate.

Drilled on April 1 in 95 meters of water and located 60 kilometers off the Angolan coast, the well encountered hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone in the Lower Oligocene’s LO100 zone. Early analyses show multiple promising reservoirs with strong flow potential. Adriano Mongini, CEO of Azule Energy, described it as a “landmark moment” and a turning point for gas exploration in Angola, adding that the find boosts confidence in the underexplored Lower Congo Basin and supports the country’s goal of cleaner and more secure energy.

The ANPG sees this discovery as a catalyst to attract more investment in natural gas, essential for powering domestic industries such as petrochemicals and fertilizer production. Drilling continues with further assessment targeting deeper reservoirs in the LO300 interval.

In a parallel move to build local capacity, Angola inaugurated a world-class Training Center for Drilling, Completion, and Well Control in Luanda. The facility, affiliated with the National Petroleum Institute (INP), is set to train up to 800 professionals annually. It is equipped with modern tools, including VR simulations and an IWCF- and IADC-compliant simulation lab for global-standard certification.

Speaking at the inauguration, Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, reaffirmed the government’s drive to translate every barrel of oil into economic opportunity. Minister Teresa Dias, responsible for Labor and Social Security, stressed that the new center would improve employability and technical education, aligning with national goals for workforce development. Joaquim Alegria, INP’s Director-General, emphasized that Angola can now locally certify its oil and gas personnel, significantly reducing overseas training costs.

Capping the week’s achievements, ANPG and its partners signed an extension to the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for Block 15. This amendment prolongs the production window from 2032 to 2037 and involves a $3 million investment aimed at unlocking 200 million additional barrels of oil. ExxonMobil leads operations in the block, with Azule Energy, Equinor, and Sonangol as partners.

Taken together, these strategic steps mark Angola’s integrated approach to energy security: tapping new gas reserves, building human capital, and reinforcing long-term oil production. With its sights set on sustainability, Angola is positioning itself not just as a resource-rich nation but as a skilled, future-focused energy leader in Africa.

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ANGOLA POWERS AHEAD WITH GAS BREAKTHROUGH, OIL BOOST, AND WORKFORCE REVOLUTION

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