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Angola holds an estimated 38.7 Tcf of discovered natural gas resources, including around 5.8 Tcf of proven reserves, positioning the country among Sub-Saharan Africa's leading gas producers. Historically, Angola's gas production has been almost entirely associated with offshore oil operations. Over the past decade, major investments in LNG, LPG and gas processing infrastructure have enabled the country to significantly reduce routine flaring while monetising increasing volumes of natural gas through exports and domestic supply.
In 2026, Angola is accelerating its transition toward a more integrated gas economy. Alongside the implementation of its Gas Master Plan, the country is advancing major projects including the New Gas Consortium, Quiluma & Maboqueiro, and the Northern Gas Complex, while expanding domestic gas utilisation for power generation and industry. With new upstream developments and additional processing capacity under construction, Angola aims to maximise the value of its gas resources, strengthen energy security and establish itself as a regional gas hub in Southern Africa.
GDP (2023)
Proven Gas Reserves
Gas production
LNG exports (2023)
Population (2023)
Population in 2050
Gas monetised
Main Infrastructure Projects
Offshore and onshore Soyo, Zaire Province. Status: Operational (2026).
2026-01-01
Soyo, Zaire Province
2013-01-01
Cabinda and offshore Lower Congo Basin.
2022-01-01
2026-01-01
Offshore and onshore Soyo, Zaire Province. Status: Operational (2026).
2013-01-01
Soyo, Zaire Province
2022-01-01
Cabinda and offshore Lower Congo Basin.
Leadership
President
Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sonangol
Chairman of the National Oil
Angola's proven natural gas reserves have shown a clear downward trend since 2016, highlighting the need for renewed exploration and investment in new discoveries.
At the eve of its oil production boom in 2004, Angola enacted Law No. 10/04 that prohibited natural gas flaring and mandated its utilization. The legislation paved the way for IOCs to invest in flare reduction and monetisation projects, giving birth to the gas processing infrastructure Angola still relies on today.
Chevron’s CABGOC subsidiary was the first major mover with the $1.9bn Sanha Condensate / Bomboco gas utilization project on Area B in the shallow water Block 0 offshore Cabinda. The project eliminated 50% gas flaring to increase oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production via the world's largest LPG FPSO vessel. The Sanha LPG FPSO can store up to 135,000 m³ of gas and was the largest LPG hull ever built when it was commissioned in 2005.
In 2007, Chevron, Sonangol, bp, Eni and Total took the final investment decision on the Angola LNG Terminal, a 5.2 mtpa LNG export terminal located in Soyo and supplied exclusively with associated gas that was previously flared. The plant was commissioned in 2013 but started full operations only in 2017, supporting flare reduction while generating revenues via LNG, LPG and condensates production.
Angola’s gas processing hubs in Soyo and Cabinda have successfully monetised associated gas from IOC-operated blocks such as Block 0, 14, 15, 17, 31 and 32. Associated gas is transported via an extensive network of over 500 km of gas pipelines to Cabinda and Soyo, but volumes have remained limited given the country’s gas reserves and the energy needs of a growing economy. A second wave of gas investments is expected this decade, focusing both on maximising utilisation of existing infrastructure while diversifying the usage of gas across the country.
Angola’s gas strategy is first and foremost focused on maximising the utilisation of its existing gas infrastructure, starting with Angola LNG. Due to feedstock challenges, the LNG terminal in Soyo has operated below capacity for several years, exporting less than 4 mtpa since 2021 against an installed capacity of 5.2 mtpa.
To maximise LNG export potential and revenues, Angola LN’s shareholders gathered around a New Gas Consortium led by Azule Energy (bp-Eni) that took a final investment decision in 2022 on the development of the the Quiluma and Maboqueiro (Q&M) non-associated gas fields. The project is Angola’s first non-associated gas development and consists of two offshore wellhead platforms, an onshore gas processing plant and a connection to Angola LNG plant for the marketing of condensates and gas via LNG cargoes. First gas is expected in 2026 for a production of 330 MMscf/day at plateau, or about 4 Bcm per year.
Meanwhile, the Draft Gas Master Plan of 2024 highlights the potential of Angolan gas to support a new petrochemicals value-chain for the production of fertilizers, methanol, and olefins. This import-substitution strategy would target key products such as chemicals, plastics, rubbers, leather or textiles/apparel that represent almost $2bn of imports for Angola every year.
Plans include, among others, the production of at least 1 million tonnes of ammonia and urea. Such plans are already in motion, with the OPAIA Group’s subsidiary Amufert S.A. awarded a $1.4bn EPC contract at the end of 2024 to build a new fertilzer plant in Soyo. The $2bn plant is backed by Afreximbank and targets a production of 4,000 metric tons per day of urea.
Existing cement, steel, glass or aluminum industries could also benefit from the availability of gas as a heat source for their furnaces. Angola is currently working to revive its Cassinga iron ore mines to boost steel production, but other industrial units already exist and could make credible off-takers, such as the ADA Aceria in Barra do Dande or the Cuchi Steel Mill in Menongue.
Angola’s gas-to-power capacity currently stands at 917 MW, with the 750 Soyo Combined-Cycle Power Plant taking the largest share since its commissioning in 2018. Gas used for electricity generation has remained small given that Angola secures most of its baseload power from hydroelectricity.
In that context, gas is regarded as a backup alternative during droughts, or as a future replacement fuel for over 2 GW of power that currently relies on expensive diesel. The installation of hybrid systems that can integrate domestic gas is being considered for several thermal power stations, with a focus on units located far away from hydropower production centres.
Out of Angola’s 42 thermal power plants, 10 of them have been identified as strong contenders for conversion in the medium-term. They represent over 500 MW of power capacity, most of which is located in remote areas with little to none hydropower.
In addition to conversions, additional gas-to-power capacity could also be sanctioned. The Energy Development Plan (EDP) aims to significantly increase Angola’s electricity generation to 12.5 GW by 2040, with gas-fired thermal plants contributing about 7 GW (~56%) of this capacity.
This includes, in the medium-term, a potential second combined-cycle power plant at Soyo with an additional 750 MW.
Expanding the allocation of natural gas to the domestic market presents a critical opportunity to catalyze the growth of a robust national gas industry. Achieving this requires establishing an open, competitive market framework and strategically identifying key off-takers, particularly in the power and industrial sectors, to anchor demand and drive market expansion and sustainability. To realize this vision, the country must also focus on developing a robust natural gas value chain, including the expansion of production infrastructure, the establishment of efficient transportation networks, and securing investments in gas processing plants, pipelines, and related infrastructure. Beyond domestic needs, Angola has the potential to emerge as a regional electricity exporter by harnessing its natural gas resources. The energy deficit in neighboring markets, such as Zambia's Copperbelt and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is estimated at approximately 3 GW. These regions present a substantial market opportunity for Angola, with potential demand for 1.5–3 MMTPA of natural gas to replace diesel and HFO as fuel for power generation.
Azule Energy’s Gajajeira-01 discovery in Block 1/14 marks Angola’s first major non-associated gas find, confirming a working hydrocarbon system in the Lower Congo Basin.
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Angola LNG has begun a planned 32-day maintenance shutdown at its 5.2 Mtpa Soyo facility, temporarily reducing LNG production and exports as part of routine maintenance aimed at ensuring the long-term reliability and efficiency of the plant.
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Everllence will supply eight compressor trains for Azule Energy's Agogo FPSO offshore Angola, supporting efficient gas processing, improved production performance and enhanced gas utilisation as part of the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development Project.
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