The Democratic Republic of Congo has canceled its 2022 licensing round for 27 oil blocks, which aimed to tap into the country’s oil and gas resources.
In a statement shared on October 11 on the hydrocarbons ministry’s X account, the Democratic Republic of Congo announced the cancellation of the oil block licensing. the statement cited several reasons, including delayed submissions, unsuitable or irregular bids, and insufficient competition.
Hydrocarbons Minister Aime Sakombi Molendo stated, “Given the above, I am obliged to declare the cancellation of the ongoing process.” He added that the process would be restarted soon but did not provide a specific timeline.
In July 2022, DR Congo announced that it would be offering 27 oil blocks and three gas blocks in the licensing round, which received criticism from environmental groups and some of DR Congo’s Western partners.
Some blocks are located in the world’s second-biggest rainforest, raising concerns that drilling could release significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and potentially hinder efforts to address global warming.
DR Congo dismissed the criticisms, arguing that it needed to harness its natural resources for development.
The vast Central African nation, known for its significant production of copper, cobalt, gold, and diamonds, has been actively working to boost its oil sector. It is believed to hold large reserves of oil and gas.
