Congo has taken a bold step in its energy sector as QatarEnergy and partners secured an exploration license for the Nzombo offshore block. The deal, signed under a Production Sharing Contract with the Congolese government, gives QatarEnergy a stake alongside TotalEnergies as operator and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo.
Qatar’s Energy Minister and QatarEnergy CEO, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, welcomed the agreement and highlighted the importance of cooperation with Congo and other partners. He expressed gratitude to the government for its support and pledged to deliver a successful exploration campaign. The Nzombo block, located offshore from Pointe-Noire, covers a vast area with waters deeper than a thousand meters.
Elsewhere in Africa, new discoveries continue to reshape the continent’s oil and gas landscape. Rwanda announced its first oil find earlier this year in Lake Kivu, shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo, after identifying several reservoirs. The discovery represents a breakthrough in Rwanda’s effort to diversify an economy long reliant on tourism, mining, and agriculture.
In Southern Africa, TotalEnergies plans to begin offshore drilling in South Africa once regulatory approval is secured, building on momentum from Namibia’s emergence as a major exploration hotspot. Namibia is now seen as one of the most promising offshore frontiers, with global players like Chevron preparing for exploratory wells and industry watchers comparing its potential to Guyana’s resource boom.
Sierra Leone has also returned to the scene, launching its first offshore 3D seismic survey in nearly a decade with GeoPartners. The project seeks to reduce exploration risk and provide fresh data for investors, with early assessments pointing to vast reserves in its offshore basin. The government is expected to decide later this year whether to open a new round of licensing.
In Angola, Azule Energy reported a large offshore gas discovery in the Lower Congo Basin, adding further momentum to the region’s upstream prospects. And after nearly three decades of dormancy, Benin has restarted drilling at the historic Sèmè offshore field, with Singapore-based Akrake Petroleum leading redevelopment efforts.
source: africa.businessinsider.com
African Energy Council