Angolan and North American companies in the oil, gas, and energy sectors have expressed their commitment to align with the policies of both governments to support project execution activities.
This announcement came from the Secretary of State for Oil and Gas, José Alexandre Barroso, following a meeting in Luanda with executives from ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Sun Africa during the IV Dialogue between Angola and the United States.
Barroso emphasized that while governments set policies and define programs, it is the companies’ role to carry out these activities.
He expressed satisfaction with the collaboration and alignment of these companies with the policies of both Angola and the United States.
“We had extensive discussions with these companies about exploration and development projects for mineral resources, including oil and gas,” Barroso said. “We all recognize that hydrocarbons are still necessary to address the global energy crisis. However, it is crucial to produce energy with environmental considerations in mind.”
Strengthening Energy Cooperation
Geoffrey Pyatt, the U.S. Undersecretary for Energy Resources, welcomed the alignment between Angolan and American private companies with the governmental policies of both nations.
Pyatt highlighted the commitment to deepening cooperation in the energy transition and critical minerals sectors, noting it as a significant point of agreement between the two countries.
Richard Nelson, the coordinator of the Power Africa (PA) program, pointed out Angola’s unique position as a country with surplus energy capacity and the potential to sell energy regionally. However, he noted the significant deficit in electricity transport capacity.
Major Investments and Projects
Several American companies, including Sun Africa, ExxonMobil, and Chevron, participated in the meeting. Sun Africa presented a solution involving the installation of two large-scale solar plants, totaling around 500 megawatts (MW), as part of an agreement between the two governments. The first phase, involving an investment of $900 million, will focus on large-scale generation plants.
In addition to large-scale projects, there are plans to install mini-grids across the country, with specific investment values to be announced soon.
The Power Africa program aims to increase access to electrical energy in Angola and the broader region.
This collaboration between Angolan and North American companies and governments signifies a robust partnership aimed at addressing energy needs while considering environmental sustainability.
