As global energy debates continue to pit hydrocarbons against decarbonization, Angola is charting a pragmatic middle path. The country is accelerating hydrocarbon development to meet domestic and regional petroleum demand while deploying innovative technologies and cleaner fuels to reduce emissions. By pairing oil-led growth with low-carbon solutions such as non-associated gas, Angola is demonstrating that energy security and climate responsibility work hand-in-hand - offering a blueprint for emerging producers across Africa navigating the energy transition on their own terms.

Driving Oil Production Through Innovation

Accounting for 90% of export earnings and 60% of government revenue, oil forms the backbone of Angola’s economy - and a centerpiece of its national energy strategy. The country has outlined clear production goals: sustain output above one million barrels per day (bpd) in the short- to medium-term, backed by a multi-year licensing strategy as well as a Permanent Offer Regime. As a result, operators are expanding their investments, with a $70 billion investment pipeline over the next five years set to support production growth in the long-term.

While crude output scales, operators are increasingly integrating decarbonization into project design, ensuring that growth in output is matched by lower emissions intensity and more efficient offshore operations. Recent projects reflect this approach. Azule Energy’s Agogo Integrated West Hub project - situated in Block 15/06 - exemplifies the company’s Low Carbon, Fast Track development model. Initially spearheaded by Eni, the model maximizes value while minimizing time-to-market, subsurface risks and carbon emissions. The Agogo FPSO’s full-electric topside and marine systems, combined cycle power generation system and Carbon Capture and Storage unit showcases this approach, representing the first FPSO in Angola where operational carbon emissions are fully offset.

TotalEnergies is deploying a similar design at its Kaminho project (https://apo-opa.co/45DjGBt) - set to come online in 2028. The project comprises the conversion of a Very Large Crude Carrier into an FPSO unit, which is designed to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate routine flaring. Like Agogo (https://apo-opa.co/4qR5ZYj), the FPSO is all-electric, with associated gas expected to be reinjected into the reservoirs. By integrating electrification, energy efficiency and advanced process control, Angola is demonstrating that large-scale oil developments can align with global emissions expectations without compromising output.

Non-Associated Gas as a Low-Carbon Growth Engine

Alongside oil, Angola is accelerating the development of non-associated gas as a strategic low-carbon fuel. The launch of the New Gas Consortium project - featuring the Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields - in 2025 marked a turning point, unlocking domestic gas supply to support power generation, industrial development and LNG expansion. Angola’s non-associated gas ambitions were further bolstered with Azule Energy’s gas discovery at the Gajajeira-01 well in Block 1/14 in 2025.

However, the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC) State of African Energy 2026 Outlook (https://apo-opa.co/45yYBbp) highlights key challenges in Angola’s quest for non-associated gas, specifically regarding the lack of requisite infrastructure to support gas evacuation from offshore fields. Advancing the country’s gas development - and subsequently, its energy addition strategy - will require a shift from upstream-focused investment to downstream development, highlighting a unique investment opportunity for international players.

“Angola proves that ‘drill baby drill’ is not about reckless extraction; it is about responsible development. It is about using world-class technology, lowering emissions per barrel, monetizing gas to power economies and ensuring energy security for millions of people who still lack access. Angola understands that you cannot transition from energy poverty without first producing energy, and that hydrocarbons, developed responsibly, remain central to Africa’s growth story,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.

AOG 2026: Investing in the Future of Angola

The Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference & Exhibition brings the country’s energy strategy into sharp focus. By connecting government, policymakers, investors, operators and service providers under one roof, the event positions Angola’s development needs at the forefront of global energy dialogue. The next edition returns to Luanda from September 9-10, 2026 - with a Pre-Conference Day on September 8 - under the theme Investing in the Future of Angola, reflecting a national agenda rooted in realism: accelerate oil and gas development to meet domestic and regional energy needs, while deploying technology and cleaner fuels to lower emissions.