Angola Oil & Gas 2021 – Angola’s Energy Roadmap

The event was attended by various speakers with responsibilities in the Oil & Gas industry, such as the Angolan minister in charge of this area and his counterparts from Turkey, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea, countries which have projects in common with Angola. Alongside the Minister were important personalities in the area, both at governance and technical level, representing the active business forces operating in Angola.

Several relevant topics were discussed, allowing for a deepening of ideas on issues such as cross-border cooperation, post COVID-19 development, exploration promotion policies, increasing competitiveness, energy transition plans, the development of refining capacities, and the evolution of the local content.

During the panels, it became clear the role that clean energies have been having in the companies of the sector, and it is expected that it will occupy an increasingly larger space. In general, operators stated that they will not turn back on any source of energy, focusing as main objectives the reduction of emissions, the search for new resources, the minimization of environmental impacts, the increase of efficiency, and the growing concern with the industry’s human capital.

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SONANGOL was also present at this conference and presented its objectives: Intensify the activity to increase reserves and increase the production of hydrocarbons in a medium long term, restructure the company to turn to a more competitive and profitable company, increase the capacity of the infrastructures in Luanda, Cabinda, Lobito and Soto and, adapt Sonangol to enter in the renewable energy market.

SOMOIL, in turn, listed its medium-long term focus on eliminating serious incidents, in the relentless focus on efficiency and cost reduction, and on launching somoil distribution.

The conference also had moments of networking allowing the attendees to exchange experiences and create business opportunities.

Duarte Marques da Cruz
Duarte Marques da Cruz is partner of the Portuguese law firm MC&A, specialised in international business advisory, with a special focus in Lusophone markets. With extensive experience in the Energy sector (Renewables and Oil & Gas) and in International Taxation, he has supported international companies in major upstream, midstream transactions and projects, including in implementing, exploration and development programs. Duarte has also supported international clients in other areas of practice, namely, Mining, Transport & Logistics, Regulatory Compliance and Mergers & Acquisitions in Mozambique, Angola and Portugal.
Through this Simplification Project, Angola shows to investors and economic players that intends to maintain its bet on the internal and external investment; on other hand, it is important to note that this simplification procedure is only at its beginning and is expected a wider range of facilitation in multiple public administration proceedings and regarding more sectors of the economy.