Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas said on Monday that the country has moved beyond the challenge of stabilising production, and called on operators to exceed the daily target of one million barrels of crude oil.
Diamantino Azevedo was in Luanda for talks with ExxonMobil Angola’s Director-General, Brian Unietis, during a ceremony marking the 32nd anniversary of operations at Block 15, located approximately 145 kilometres off Angola’s northern coast and with cumulative production of around 2.7 billion barrels of oil.
The minister recalled that Angola went several years without tendering new blocks, but that over the past nine years, 72 blocks had been put out to tender — and that this pipeline of activity must now deliver results.
‘That is the challenge now. I am asking for your contribution: what do we need to do to effectively increase production? Because I believe the potential is there,’ he said.
Speaking to the press, Diamantino Azevedo said he was satisfied with the performance of oil companies, both in terms of production and their social programmes and localisation of the sector. He argued, however, that targets must continue to be raised.
‘When we reach one objective, we must set new ones. What I have asked of the companies is to invest more, to seek to negotiate additional blocks with the petroleum agency, and to pay close attention to the issue of Angolanisation,’ he said.
The minister also announced the imminent publication of executive decrees relating to new offshore and onshore blocks, which will be made available for investor evaluation.
‘We have several onshore blocks, because we see the potential for oil there. There is a great deal of work to be done,’ he said.
Regarding Block 15 specifically, the minister highlighted its Angolanisation rate, which has already reached 95%. He nonetheless called for greater participation by Angolan companies in service provision.
‘I also referred to the need to see more Angolan service providers participating, but that is a challenge not only for the operating companies, but also for Angolan firms themselves to be more assertive and seek greater involvement in this part of the productive activity,’ he said.
Diamantino Azevedo also called for a joint review of the quality and impact of social projects developed by oil companies operating in the country.
Block 15, located in deepwater and operated by ExxonMobil, counts Azule Energy, Equinor, and Sonangol among its partners. The operating licence has been extended to 2037, with a planned investment of three billion dollars (2.5 billion euros).
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/01/mundo/angola/angola-governo-quer-producao-petrolifera-acima-de-um-milhao-de-barris-dia/
