Afentra Strengthens Angola Presence with Block 3/05 Stake, Driving 21,000 BPD Output
Independent British oil exploration and production company Afentra has emerged as a major international partner of Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company, according to a statement from Afentra.
“In the first half of this year alone, Block 3/05, where Afentra holds a significant stake, recorded an average gross production of over 21,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
This confirms the rehabilitation potential of mature assets when managed in partnership and with continued investment,” the statement said.
In 2024, Afentra, in collaboration with Trafigura, completed a $100 million acquisition of 12% and 16% non-operating interests in Blocks 3/05 and 3/05A offshore, respectively, from Azule Energy.
Founded in 2021 by former Tullow executives, Afentra prioritized Angola due to the market’s maturity, presence of major international players, and availability of mid-life assets suitable for optimization by agile independent operators.
Since its inception, Afentra has been consolidating a diversified portfolio in the Kwanza Basin, which includes:
Blocks 3/05 and 3/05A (offshore)
Three onshore licenses: KON4, KON15, and KON19
One offshore license: Block 23
Key Projects and Opportunities
Afentra highlighted KON4, which is awaiting ratification. The license encompasses the Quenguela Norte field, the largest onshore discovery in the Kwanza Basin, with an estimated potential of over 200 million barrels of oil.
The company described it as a long-term opportunity to revitalize onshore production, a sector that has been underexplored for decades.
Afentra’s investments coincide with reforms by the Angolan government and the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG) designed to encourage reinvestment in mature assets and attract new operators.
The government’s Incremental Production initiative, launched in 2024 to increase domestic output, is already yielding visible results.
Alongside rehabilitation of marginal fields, Angola’s oil industry is seeing renewed exploratory activity, both in the deep offshore and the Kwanza Basin.
“Our portfolio is proof of our long-term commitment to Angola. Working alongside Sonangol and other local companies is essential to maintaining production above one million barrels per day after 2027,” said Afentra CEO Paul McDade.
