TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil have entered into an agreement with Angola’s National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) to explore the Free Areas of blocks 17/06 and 32/21, a move aimed at expanding offshore exploration and strengthening the country’s oil and gas sector.
This announcement was made on Wednesday, as confirmed by Katrina Fisher, Managing Director, ExxonMobil Angola, and Martin Deffontaines, Managing Director, TotalEnergies Angola, in alignment with the national objective to maintain oil production above one million barrels per day.
Katrina Fisher stated that the agreement demonstrates ExxonMobil’s continued commitment to Angola, where we have operated for over 30 years.
“We look forward to expanding our collaboration through new opportunities as we work towards the shared goal of maintaining and increasing oil production.”
The agreement aims to enhance production in Angola’s deepwater basins. If the studies prove successful, the ANPG will finalize concession contracts for each of the Free Areas.
Both TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil are working to integrate more sustainable practices into their African operations. This initiative follows the Incremental Production Initiative, launched by the government in November 2024 via Presidential Decree 8/24. This program offers tax breaks and legal support for investments in established offshore blocks.
The initial success of the project was marked by ExxonMobil’s Likember-01 discovery in Block 15, the first well drilled under this endeavor.
Martin Deffontaines commented on the combined strengths of the partners, stating that:
“We have the ambition to identify targets that can be drilled quickly. Thanks to our experience, knowledge of the area, and the fruitful collaboration of our teams, I am confident that TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil are in the best position to write a new chapter.”
Paulino Jeronimo, Chairman of the Board of Directors, ANPG, also commented on the agreement:
“We drilled the Dalia Deep well [in Block 17] and the results were good. That is why we are prepared to assess the rest of the block, [specifically] in the deepest part.”
Block 17, operated by TotalEnergies, has been producing since 2001 and includes six FPSO vessels.
In Block 32, 13 discoveries have yielded one billion barrels, including the Kaombo development, which has been operational since 2018.
The partners’ objective in Blocks 17 and 32 is to identify new prospects within both blocks.
In 2019, TotalEnergies, the operator, along with partners Equinor, ExxonMobil, and BP, reached an agreement with the ANPG and state-owned Sonangol of Angola to extend their consortium’s production licenses to 2045.
Future discoveries will benefit from connection to existing offshore infrastructure, enabling the companies to expedite the delivery of new production.
