Afentra Secures 35% Operating Stake in Angola’s KON4 Block Under New Risk Service Contract
Afentra has been awarded a 35% operated interest in Angola’s KON4 onshore oil block following government approval of a Risk Service Contract issued through a Presidential Decree.
The license was awarded to a consortium comprising Afentra, Grupo Simples Oil, Sonangol E&P, Brite’s Oil and Gas, and Sodedurs, strengthening the company’s footprint in Angola’s mature onshore oil sector.
The KON4 block is located in the Kwanza Basin and includes several previously producing oil fields.
Among them is Quenguela Norte, the largest onshore oil discovery in the basin to date, estimated to contain more than 200 million barrels of oil in place within Tertiary reservoirs.
The field was previously producing up to 12,000 barrels per day before operations ceased in 1999, with cumulative recovery of approximately 46 million barrels before its abandonment.
Covering an area of around 1,387 square kilometres, KON4 sits within a historically productive petroleum province that has yielded more than 90 million barrels of oil equivalent from 11 oil fields and two gas fields.
The new contract is expected to unlock redevelopment opportunities in mature assets as well as support new exploration across both Tertiary and Cretaceous formations, which remain underexplored.
Its proximity to existing infrastructure, including the Luanda refinery and established transport networks, is expected to facilitate potential early production and cost-efficient development.
Afentra has already initiated preliminary subsurface studies on the block, focusing on the potential restart of production at Quenguela Norte.
The work includes integrating data from a recent high-resolution extended Full Tensor Gravity (eFTG) survey with existing seismic datasets to assess broader exploration prospects.
The contractor group is also reviewing regulatory and permitting requirements as part of early-stage project preparation.
Afentra Chief Executive Officer Paul McDade said the KON4 award represents a key milestone in the company’s strategy to expand its operated position in Angola’s onshore Kwanza Basin.
He noted that the block offers both redevelopment potential from the Quenguela Norte field and additional exploration upside, supported by attractive fiscal terms and access to nearby infrastructure.
McDade added that, alongside Afentra’s non-operated interests in KON15 and KON19, the company is building a stronger regional position and will continue advancing technical evaluation work with its partners.
Under the agreement, Afentra and Grupo Simples Oil each hold 35% interests in KON4, while Sonangol E&P holds 20%, and Brite’s Oil and Gas and Sodedurs each hold 5%.
