Angola’s national oil and gas agency, ANPG, will sign an exclusive negotiation agreement with oil major Shell, to explore and develop Blocks 19, 34, 35, as well as ultra-deep water blocks, it said in a statement late on Thursday.
The signing ceremony will take place on November 3.
“This event marks a historic moment for the Angolan oil sector, consolidating Shell’s presence in Angola,” Angola’s National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency said.
Angola is Sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest crude oil producer after Nigeria. It has undertaken major regulatory reforms to attract new investment into its energy sector, aimed at keeping production above 1 million barrels per day.
New refinery signals energy rebirth
A centrepiece of Angola’s renewed energy drive is the long-delayed Cabinda refinery, the first built since independence nearly five decades ago.
Expected to begin operations before the end of 2025, the facility will help reduce reliance on expensive fuel imports and strengthen domestic refining capacity.
It also arrives as the government gradually phases out costly fuel subsidies that have historically strained public finances and fueled social unrest.
The exclusive negotiation agreement between Shell and Angola’s National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) marks a continuation of this broader strategy to boost exploration, secure long-term output, and enhance value creation within the sector.
