Angola’s licensing agency awarded three deepwater oil and gas blocks in its 2019 bid round (OGJ Online, June 5, 2019). Of the 10 blocks made available by the National Agency of Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG), the awards comprise Namibe basin Blocks 27, 28, and 29. Other blocks offered were 11, 12, 13, 41, 42, and 43 in the Namibe basin, and Block 10 in the Benguela basin.
The awards give state-owned Sonangol EP working interest in all three blocks, joined by Eni, Total, Equinor, and BP as operators or shareholders. Sonagol holds a 35% interest in Block 27. The remaining 65% is open and available to interested companies. Eni was awarded operator of Block 28 with 60% interest and Sonagol was awarded 20% interest. The remaining 20% is available to interested parties. Total was awarded operator of Block 29 with 46% interest. Awarded partners are Equinor with 24.5%, Sonangol with 20%, and BP with a 9.5% concession share.
The awarded blocks, which are all considered frontier, currently have no hydrocarbon production.
Dates, venues, and terms of negotiation sessions for available interest in Blocks 27 or 28 have not been set.
