Angola has achieved a major milestone in its energy sector with a significant offshore gas discovery, marking the country’s first-ever exploration well focused entirely on natural gas.
The breakthrough was made public on Friday, July 12, by the National Oil and Gas Agency (ANGP) after the successful drilling of the Gajajeira-01 well in Block 1/14, located in the Lower Congo Basin, as reported by Reuters.
The well uncovered rock formations containing both gas and condensates.
Early estimates suggest the site may hold more than one trillion cubic feet of gas along with as much as 100 million barrels of condensate.
Block 1/14 is operated by Azule Energy, a joint venture between BP and Eni, which owns a 35% stake.
Other stakeholders in the block include Equinor with 30%, Angola’s state-owned Sonangol E&P holding 25%, and Acrep S.A., a private Angolan company, with the remaining 10%.
“This is a landmark moment for gas exploration in Angola,” said Adriano Mongini, CEO of Azule Energy, in a joint statement.
“The Gajajeira-01 well is the first dedicated gas exploration in the country, and its success reinforces our confidence in the potential of the Lower Congo Basin.”
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This development marks a critical step in Angola’s broader effort to tap into its natural gas resources.
According to Azule, the result enhances optimism about the untapped potential of the Lower Congo Basin.
The discovery comes at a time when the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has identified Angola as a rising hub in Africa’s shift toward cleaner energy.
The find strengthens the country’s growing strategic role in the regional energy landscape.
It also builds on more than a decade of groundwork laid since 2013, when the Angola LNG plant in Soyo was launched to reduce flaring and monetize gas from offshore oil operations.
More recently, projects like the Sanha Lean Gas Connection and the Quiluma–Maboqueiro development have become key pillars in the execution of Angola’s Gas Master Plan.
That roadmap targets having natural gas make up 25% of the national energy mix by 2025.
It also aims to unlock billions of dollars in investment, scale up industrial and power capacity, and position Angola as a significant gas exporter in the region.
The success of the Gajajeira-01 well represents a clear step forward in achieving those national goals.
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