Angola to launch final licensing round in Q4 2025 with focus on Kwanza and Benguela basins

Angola is preparing to launch its next oil and gas licensing round in the final quarter of 2025, with acreage on offer in the Kwanza and Benguela basins. The announcement was made by Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas Diamantino Azevedo during a Ministerial Fireside Chat sponsored by Vitol at the Angola Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition 2025.

The move forms part of Angola’s goal to sustain production above one million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026 and beyond. According to Minister Azevedo, the round also marks the conclusion of the country’s multi-year licensing strategy, initiated in 2019 with the objective of awarding 50 concessions.

Sustaining output through new exploration

Minister Azevedo emphasized that while developments are ongoing in several mature fields, exploration remains essential to maintaining national production levels.

“We have a goal to achieve one million bpd in the next year. Even though we have a lot of activities and developments in certain areas, we are a country with matured wells in our fields. Our solution is to look for new deposits. Offshore and onshore, we have seen a growth in exploration across new blocks. The multi-year strategy ends this year, with one more bid round expected. The 2025 licensing round will be launched by the last quarter of this year,” he stated.

The 2025 round will provide international and local investors opportunities to participate in proven hydrocarbon basins, while reinforcing Angola’s commitment to sustaining exploration momentum.

Flexible reforms and local participation

Angola has complemented its licensing strategy with reforms such as the permanent offer regime and legislation covering marginal fields. These measures have attracted new players and encouraged reinvestment from established operators.

“When we decided to create legislative change, we invited the private sector to be part of this. This demonstrates our cooperative spirit, so that we can create win-win mechanisms. The process of reform is not finished; we continue to work on improving the legislation, implementation and regulation,” Minister Azevedo said.

He also underscored Angola’s aim to boost national participation in the sector: “We want to see more Angolans participating in the industry. We also want to see national Angolan companies to be more active in our economic growth. We want to bring legislation that supports this.”