Angola and DRC Advance Joint Offshore Oil Development with New Cooperation Measures for Common Interest Area
Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have continued to strengthen their energy partnership after technical experts from both countries met in Luanda on Tuesday and Wednesday to advance cooperation within the Area of Common Interest (ACI).
According to Angola’s Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, the meeting focused on reviewing the implementation of the legal framework governing the joint exploration of shared offshore hydrocarbon resources and enhancing cooperation mechanisms between the two countries.
Key agenda items included the appointment of representatives to the ACI Management Committees, oversight of the Angola–DRC Joint Account, and the Steering and Operations Committees responsible for managing the shared offshore area.
The programme also included the signing of an addendum to the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for Block 14/23, further strengthening the legal framework for joint resource development.
Following the technical discussions, Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Pedro Azevedo, and the DRC’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, Acacia Bandubola, are expected to meet to validate the outcomes and publicly announce the agreements reached, reaffirming both governments’ commitment to the transparent and sustainable management of shared energy resources.
The ACI covers a maritime area located between the southern part of Block 14 and the northern sections of Blocks 1, 15 and 31 within Angola’s offshore oil concessions.
The framework was established through bilateral agreements signed in 2023, updated in 2024, and formally approved under Presidential Decree No. 12/26 of 13 January 2026.
It is designed to ensure the joint and balanced exploration of shared hydrocarbon resources while delivering mutual economic benefits and strengthening long-term energy cooperation between Angola and the DRC.
