Angola Oil & Gas Conference Returns in September as New Discoveries and Refinery Expansion Signal a Production Renaissance

Minister Azevedo to headline AOG 2026 as Angola advances a $70 billion upstream pipeline, first non-associated gas project, and a 500-million-barrel offshore discovery

Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, will once again headline the Angola Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, set to take place on September 9 and 10 in Luanda with a pre-conference day on September 8. The event arrives at what industry observers are describing as a pivotal inflection point for the country’s hydrocarbons sector — one defined less by production decline concerns and more by stabilisation, gas monetisation, and a wave of new investment opportunities reshaping Angola’s energy outlook.

Minister Azevedo’s participation signals the government’s continued commitment to direct investor engagement and to advancing a $70 billion upstream investment pipeline that is already delivering tangible results in 2026.

First Gas, New Discoveries, and Frontier Basin Agreements

The pace of project milestones in early 2026 has been striking. This month, the New Gas Consortium achieved first gas delivery from the Quiluma field — part of Angola’s first non-associated gas project — with initial output estimated at 150 million standard cubic feet per day. February saw the Ndungu field come online, marking a significant step in the broader Agogo Integrated West Hub Development.

Offshore momentum is building across multiple fronts. Angola’s Block 15/06 partners announced the Algaita-01 discovery in February 2026, with estimated reserves of 500 million barrels of oil — a find that immediately elevated Angola’s near-term exploration profile. In March, a principles agreement was signed between the ANPG, TotalEnergies, and ExxonMobil for the allocation of four blocks in the frontier Benguela and Namibe Basins, laying the foundation for production sharing contracts. Redevelopment activities are advancing at Blocks 3/05 and 3/05A, while Afentra is targeting a final investment decision at Block 3/24 in late 2026 or early 2027.

Onshore Exploration Gaining Traction

Angola’s onshore sector is also attracting fresh attention. Corcel recently raised £3.6 million to accelerate exploration at KON 16, moving from seismic interpretation toward drilling within the next twelve months. ReconAfrica is advancing geochemical sampling in the Damara Fold Belt, Afentra is acquiring geophysical data at the prospective KON 4 acreage, and Nigeria’s Oando Energy Resources has assumed operatorship of Block KON 13. Sonangol is leading exploration at KON 11, KON 12, and KON 15, while the Lower Congo basin is seeing parallel momentum from companies including Etu Energias, ACREP, and Walcot Energy.

Refining Ambitions to Transform the Downstream

Angola’s upstream drive is matched by significant downstream ambitions. Following the start of operations at the Cabinda oil refinery in 2025, the country is targeting the commissioning of the 200,000 barrels per day Lobito refinery in 2027 and is preparing to develop the 100,000 barrels per day Soyo facility, with foreign investment being sought to complete both strategic projects.

The combination of new production coming online, a licensing round on the horizon, and expanding refining capacity positions Angola as one of the few markets offering both near-term output growth and genuine long-term exploration upside — a combination that AOG 2026 will put squarely before the global investment community in September.