Africa’s elite energy event has dedicated a comprehensive programme on Angola, including a spotlight panel discussion, a keynote speech by a senior government official, a country pavilion on the exhibition floor and the official launch of the “Africa Energy Series – Angola 2019”.
Following major economic reforms, Angola’s oil and gas industry is undergoing a big resurgence. On 3 September, the country will launch the first leg of an international roadshow to promote this year’s oil and gas licensing round.
Officials from the ministry of mineral resources and petroleum, national oil company Sonangol and the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency are set to be in Cape Town during AOP to present the ongoing bidding round, which includes 10 onshore blocks in the Namibe and Benguela basin.
The country has also passed new legislation for the development of marginal oil fields, to monetise natural gas and improvements to public tender processes that make them more transparent.
Sergio Pugliese, president of the African Energy Chamber (AEC) in Angola, said, “We have witnessed a positive seismic shift in the way business is being conducted in Angola’s oil sector. Minister Diamantino Azevedo’s open door and results-oriented approach, together with the new sector regulators have triggered not only more drilling and activity than in previous years but also optimism that the industry is slowly but surely on its way back to pre-2014 activity levels.”
“Angolan companies are in larger numbers seeking partnerships and deals with other African and international services and technology companies, to serve and support the resurgence of activity. AOP provides a perfect platform to seal those deals,” he added.
Featuring the participation of major industry figures from Angola, South Africa, Senegal, Gambia, South Sudan and Lesotho, AOP 2019 will see the creation of new relationships that will ultimately be beneficial to Africa’s petroleum industry.
AOP 2019 creates an opportunity for the industry to come together to review and analyse important challenges and opportunities in the sector. The AEC applauds and fully supports this goal.