Angola’s ANPG Proposes Permanent Licensing Framework to Accelerate Oil and Gas Investment
Angola plans to replace scheduled oil and gas licensing rounds with a permanent licensing framework that would allow investors to access available acreage and negotiate exploration agreements throughout the year.
The National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) announced the proposed shift during African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town, as the country seeks to attract upstream investment, stimulate exploration and counter declining oil production.
Hélder Iombo, ANPG’s Director of Negotiations, said the agency had submitted two strategic proposals to the government: a 25-year Hydrocarbon Strategy and a new licensing strategy covering the coming years.
Under the proposed framework, oil and gas blocks would remain continuously available, allowing interested companies to pursue opportunities and begin discussions on production-sharing agreements without waiting for scheduled bidding rounds.
“We are going to move away from scheduled bid rounds. Companies don’t want to wait two years for a block they can have access to today,” Iombo said.
The proposed changes build on Angola’s broader efforts to improve the competitiveness of its upstream petroleum sector by streamlining approvals, adjusting commercial terms and making exploration opportunities more accessible to investors.
More Than US$10 Billion Committed to Mature Oilfields
Alongside the proposed licensing reforms, the ANPG is seeking to sustain production through investment in existing oilfields.
Alcides Andrade, an executive board member at the agency, said Angola had secured more than US$10 billion in investment across mature oilfields through closer collaboration with operators and adjustments to commercial terms.
According to Andrade, the investments had extended the operating lives of existing assets and added approximately one billion barrels to reserves, supporting production over the next five years.
He said the agency had focused on balancing the interests of the government and industry operators to make further investment commercially viable.
“We need to understand that we are competing for capital. If you understand your stakeholder needs, you are able to find solutions that are win-win for everyone,” Andrade said.
The strategy reflects Angola’s efforts to remain competitive in attracting international capital as energy companies assess investment opportunities across different producing regions.
Exploration Remains Central to Production Growth
While investment in mature fields is expected to support near-term output, Angola is also prioritising exploration to replenish reserves and sustain production over the medium and long term.
Andrade said the country aimed to drill between 10 and 15 exploration wells annually over the next six years, using newly awarded blocks and opportunities within existing producing areas.
The proposed permanent licensing framework is intended to support this target by giving companies greater flexibility to identify acreage, assess geological prospects and make investment decisions.
Angola has been pursuing reforms to attract new exploration investment as production from established fields declines.
The government has introduced more flexible licensing arrangements and commercial terms to encourage development across offshore, onshore and marginal fields.
The shift towards continuous licensing would represent a further step in these efforts, potentially reducing waiting periods associated with scheduled tenders and allowing investors to pursue opportunities when they are ready.
The proposed framework remains subject to government consideration. Its effectiveness will depend on the final regulatory arrangements, the availability of commercially attractive acreage and Angola’s ability to convert exploration investment into new discoveries and sustained production.
For the country, the broader objective is to attract long-term capital, replenish hydrocarbon reserves and strengthen the resilience of its oil and gas industry.
