Congo-Brazzaville To Offer Licences

Congo-Brazzaville will launch the second phase of its oil and gas exploration licensing round, begun in 2016. It will be launched during the Africa Oil Week (AOW) in Cape Town on November 5-9, 2018.

According to the Congolese minister of energy, Jean-Marc Thystere Tchicaya, the second phase covers five offshore blocks (a mix of shallow and deep), three onshore blocks in the coastal basin, and five onshore blocks in the Cuvette basin. Interested firms can already pre-register at the Congo's energy ministry.  The call to proposals will officially be launched in September 2018 and close June 2019.

Thirty firms took part in Congo’s first licensing round in 2016. At the time, the nation offered eight offshore blocks and five onshore blocks.

Congo is primarily an offshore oil producer, with Eni and Total leading operators. Some offshore associated gas is supplied to an Eni-run power plant at Pointe-Noire, the main port that is home to the upstream sector and the country's oil refinery. Also, Jersey-registered independent NewAge hopes to start up a small export-oriented floating liquefaction project in 2023-24, but has yet to take an investment decision.