Along with spearheading the expansion of its oil and gas sector, Angola is simultaneously prioritizing decarbonization and environmental stewardship, aligned with its recently-approved National Strategy for Climate Action.
This strategy focuses on adopting a low-carbon development model, mobilizing state resources and enhancing local capacity to develop and adopt new and environmentally-driven technologies.
The country’s long-term development strategy aims to achieve 60% electricity access by 2025, with 70% of installed generation capacity derived from renewable sources.
The Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2024 Conference & Exhibition, returning to Luanda next October for its fifth edition, will explore Angola’s latest decarbonization efforts and upcoming developments, including the top five initiatives to watch.
CABGOC
Chevron, through its Angolan subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Angolan Government last November to explore low-carbon business opportunities.
The initiative aims to leverage technological carbon offsets, biofuels like hydrogen and carbon capture and storage solutions to grow Angola’s energy production and diversify its energy mix.
Notably, Chevron plans to establish a regional center of excellence to attract low-carbon energy investments. The partnership aligns with Angola’s goal to reduce emissions by 14% by 2025.
Sonangol and Azule Energy
Angolan national oil company Sonangol and Azule Energy signed an MOU last September to advance decarbonization in-country.
The agreement, signed during AOG 2023, identifies common interests, assesses potential collaborations and explores new opportunities in renewable energy projects, including solar, wind and low-carbon hydrogen.
The partnership aims to conduct joint studies on carbon taxes and credits, while promoting improved national regulations and best practices in the sector.
The initiative supports Sonangol’s commitment to reducing its own emissions by 15% by 2030. The two companies also collaborated on the construction of the Caraculo solar PV plant, a renewable energy pilot project in Namibe Province that came online earlier this year.
Sonangol and TotalEnergies
Last month, TotalEnergies and Sonangol signed an MOU on a decarbonization initiative to modernize and transition the country’s oil and gas sector activities.
The partnership provides for the deployment of proprietary drone technology — Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications — which identifies, quantifies and reduces methane and carbon dioxide emissions from oil and gas operations.
The technology, developed by TotalEnergies and the French National Scientific Research Center, will be piloted in Block 3/05.
Azule Energy and Yinson Production
FPSO provider Yinson Production and Azule Energy announced plans last October to pioneer an offshore carbon capture and storage plant on the Agogo FPSO vessel in offshore Block 15/06.
This marks the world’s first post-combustion carbon capture unit on an FPSO and aims to assess technical readiness and operational know-how.
The FPSO will integrate various emission-lowering technologies, including electrification, automation, digitalization, a combined-cycle power system, a seawater turbine generator, hydrocarbon cargo tank blanketing and an integrated closed flare system.
Sonangol and Eni
Italy’s Eni and Sonangol have also signed an MOU to collaborate on decarbonization initiatives. The agreement aims to identify opportunities in Angola’s energy transition, including agro-industrial supply chains for low-carbon fuel production, biomass valorization and green ammonia for agro-industrial applications.
The collaboration, signed last May, focuses on evaluating agribusiness opportunities, fostering synergies in national agricultural and bio-energy value chains, and exploring innovations in transition minerals.
