Striving to boost natural gas production while maintaining crude output above one million barrels per day (bpd) beyond 2027, Angola has a strong project pipeline planned for 2025. Beyond oil and gas developments, the country seeks to diversify its energy matrix through investments in green hydrogen and renewable energy. From FID to the start of operations to an international bid round and regulatory reform, 2025 promises to be an exciting year for Angola’s energy industry.

2025 Bid Round

Angola will launch its next international oil and gas tender in Q1, 2025. Part of its six-year licensing strategy – launched in 2019 – the 2025 bid round features nine offshore concessions. Available acreage includes Block 22, Block 35, Block 37, Block 38, and Block 36 in the offshore Kwanza basin and Block 40, Block 25, Block 39, and Block 26 in the offshore Benguela basin. Companies interested in participating in the tender can submit their interest to the country’s upstream regulator, the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG).

Shearwater to Launch Deepwater Survey for TotalEnergies

Marine geoscience and technology company Shearwater Geoservices will kickstart a deepwater ocean-bottom node survey in Angola for energy major TotalEnergies in January 2025. The survey will span two and a half months and cover the Louro and Mostarda fields in Block 32, which is home to the Kaombo ultra-deepwater project. TotalEnergies seeks to further tap into six fields—including Louro and Mostarda—across the concession.

Cabinda Refinery to Start Operations

Angola expects to process first oil at the Cabinda Refinery in Q1, 2025, with commercial operations anticipated to begin in July 2025. Owned by asset manager Gemcorp (90%) and Angola’s national oil company Sonangol (10%), the refinery will have a capacity to produce 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the first phase, producing products such as diesel and jet fuel. Phase 2 will see capacity double to 60,000 bpd, adding products such as gasoline and gas.

First Non-Associated Gas Output to Commence

Angola’s New Gas Consortium (NGC) – featuring partners Azule Energy (operator), Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited, Sonangol E&P and TotalEnergies – aims to start production at the country’s first non-associated gas project by late-2025 or early-2026. The $2.4 billion project – currently 50% complete – will have a capacity of 330 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) and comprises the development of the Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields. All the requisite commercial deals were signed by the NGC and ANPG in November 2024, six months ahead of schedule.

Angola Targets 25% Share of Gas in Energy Mix

Angola strives to increase the share of natural gas in the energy mix to 25% by 2025, up from current levels of between 7%-10%. Both Angola’s non-associated gas project and the Sanha Lean Gas Connection Project – developed by energy major Chevron – support this goal. The $300 million Sanha project, set to come online this month, will deliver gas to the country’s inaugural LNG facility: Angola LNG. With the project, Chevron will bring an additional 600 mmscf/d online in Block 0 by the end of 2024. Angola has also published its Gas Master Plan (GMP) for public comment. The 25-year GMP aims to develop more than 40 gas fields.

FID Expected on Green Hydrogen Project

Angola expects to reach a Final Investment Decision on its inaugural green hydrogen project in 2025. Developed by Sonangol in partnership with energy company CWP, Gauff Engineering and Conjuncta, the 600 MW project will have a capacity to produce 400,000 tons of green hydrogen per annum.

Quilemba Solar Project to Start Operations

The Quilemba Solar Project – with a capacity to generate 45 MW of power – is on track to begin operations by Q4, 2025 or early-2026. Developed by Sonangol in partnership with TotalEnergies and energy company Greentech, the project aligns with TotalEnergies’ multi-energy strategy in Angola.