The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially opened 52 new oil exploration blocks in the Cuvette Centrale sedimentary basin, according to a recent announcement by Minister of Hydrocarbons, Aimé Sakombi Molendo. This marks the completion of the basin’s division into exploration zones.
The process was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Environment to ensure that boundaries of protected areas were respected.
The newly designated blocks add to the three exploration areas previously awarded to state-owned COMICO, located in Mbandaka, Lokoro, and Busira.
The Cuvette Centrale region is home to vast peatlands and tropical forests, recognised as one of the largest carbon sinks in the world.
As such, the government’s balancing act between energy development and environmental preservation remains closely watched by local and international observers.
