Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

The preliminary agreement covers the development of the Barra do Dande Green Hydrogen Project

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol signed an agreement with energy companies Conjuncta, CWP and Gauff for the development of the Barra do Dande green hydrogen project in Angola. Signed during the Angola Oil & Gas conference on Wednesday, the deal covers the design, licensing, financing, engineering and construction of the facility.  

Situated in the municipality of Barra do Dande, the green hydrogen project will produce up to 1,200 tons of ammonia for export to the European market. The facility will feature the installation of 600 MW of renewable energy capacity – generated from hydropower sources – as well as a 400kv substation and adequate water treatment.  

The deal was signed by Orlando da Mata, President of the Board of Directors of the Sonangol Research and Development Center; Vladimir Machado, President of the Executive Committee of the Sonangol Research and Development Center; Michael Scholey, CEO of CWP; Stefan Tavares Bollow, CEO of Gauff; and Julian Reichert on behalf of Conjuncta CEO Stefan Liebing.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

The Angola Oil & Gas Awards celebrate the achievements of oil and gas companies active in Angola

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The winners of the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Awards were officially announced during the event’s Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony on Wednesday. Celebrating the achievements of oil and gas companies active in Angola, the awards serve as a moment of reflection and inspiration for the country’s oil and gas industry.  

In line with the event’s theme of Driving Exploration and Development Towards Increased Production in Angola, the AOG 2024 awards celebrate the milestones, projects and progress of companies across the entire oil and gas value chain. The AOG 2024 Awards winners included:  

Game-Changer of the Year: Kaminho Deepwater Development 
The AOG 2024 Game-Changer of the Year is the Kaminho Deepwater Development, awarded to project partners TotalEnergies, Sonangol and Petronas. Achieving FID in 2024, the $6 billion project is the first large deepwater development in the Kwanza Basin. The low-emission, high-production project will feature an FPSO with a capacity to produce 70,000 barrels per day. Set to come online in 2028, the project represents a game-changer for the industry.  

Explorer of the Year: ExxonMobil 
ExxonMobil is the winner of the Explorer of the Year, owing to its success in incremental production and drive for frontier exploration. In 2024, the company made a discovery at the Likember-01 research well in Block 15 – one of Angola’s longest-producing assets. The find marks a critical point for the block, showcasing the potential for enhanced recovery. Set to drill the Arcturus-1 well in the Namibe basin in 2024, ExxonMobil is seeking play-opening finds, setting it apart as a true explorer of the year.  

Local Company of the Year: Cabship 
The AOG 2024 Local Company of the Year was awarded to Cabship for its progress in up-scaling Angola’s logistics, oilfield services and capacity building. The company is spearheading an offshore marine support company in partnership with Octomar, driving instrumental developments in shipping and material management and enhancing procurement across the oil and gas industry.  

Lifetime Achievement Award: Desidério Costa 
Angola’s former hydrocarbon Minister Desidério Costa has been selected as the winner of the AOG 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award owing to his commitment to growing the Angolan oil and gas industry. Serving as Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas from 2002-2008, Costa played an instrumental part in shaping the country’s oil and gas industry to what it is today. From revising petroleum frameworks to serving as Chairman of the African Petroleum Producers Organization to overseeing the establishment of Angola’s first LNG facility, Costa’s career defined by a commitment to development.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.