Angola’s upstream energy landscape is entering a dynamic new phase as leading independent oil and gas companies confirm their participation in this year’s Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference, set for September 3–4 in Luanda. Against a backdrop of rising merger and acquisition activity and ahead of the country’s anticipated licensing round later this year, firms such as Panoro Energy, ReconAfrica, Corcel, Sintana Energy, and FIRST E&P are positioning themselves to shape the next era of exploration and production in one of Africa’s most promising markets.
Panoro Energy, under the leadership of CEO John Hamilton, will headline key sessions on offshore investment strategy. While the company has not yet entered the Angolan market, its track record across Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Tunisia demonstrates a sharp focus on frontier exploration and production. In early 2025, Panoro announced a significant offshore discovery in Gabon’s Dussafu block, estimated to hold 25 million barrels of recoverable oil. With Angola offering considerable offshore acreage through its permanent offer program, Panoro’s presence at AOG signals strong interest in expanding its West African footprint.
Onshore exploration is also gaining momentum. Canadian-headquartered ReconAfrica made its entry into Angola official earlier this year, signing a major exploration agreement with the country’s National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency to survey over five million acres in the Etosha-Okavango Basin. CEO Brian Reinsborough is expected to discuss the company’s multi-country strategy, which also includes an active exploration license across 6.3 million acres in Namibia. ReconAfrica’s involvement brings renewed attention to Angola’s underexplored onshore zones, which are increasingly seen as the next frontier for discovery.
Further driving interest in Angola’s interior basins are Corcel and Sintana Energy. Corcel, which holds a majority stake in Block KON 16 located in the Kwanza Basin, has aggressively expanded its position through recent acquisitions. In two deals signed this year, the company increased its ownership to over 71%—first acquiring a 30% stake from Intank Global DMCC, followed by an indirect 5% interest secured via Sintana Energy. Both firms have committed to ramping up activity on the block, with plans to mobilize additional capital for exploration in 2026. Their collaboration is also aimed at evaluating new production opportunities across the country, deepening Angola’s appeal to smaller, agile operators.
Meanwhile, FIRST E&P is approaching the Angolan market with a regional growth strategy informed by its performance in Nigeria’s onshore and shallow-water blocks. Represented at AOG 2025 by Chief Strategy Officer George Toriola, the company brings operational credibility and a portfolio of producing assets that could prove valuable as Angola pursues greater integration with sub-Saharan energy networks. While FIRST E&P does not currently operate in Angola, its interest reflects a wider industry trend: leveraging regional know-how to unlock new reserves and enhance cross-border investment.
The presence of these independent operators at AOG 2025 reinforces Angola’s evolving position as an accessible and investor-friendly hydrocarbon market. At a time when global majors are becoming more selective and energy transition pressures mount, independents are increasingly stepping into frontier territories with a willingness to explore, invest, and take calculated risks. Their activity also aligns with Angola’s long-term vision to increase oil output, diversify exploration partners, and capitalize on its underutilized onshore potential.
More broadly, this shift underscores a larger narrative taking hold across Africa’s resource economies: one that balances responsible extraction with regional cooperation, diversified investment, and long-term sustainability. As Angola prepares to showcase new blocks and engage with stakeholders at AOG 2025, the engagement of these firms reflects growing confidence in the country’s regulatory direction and energy ambitions.
For a continent that is both rich in resources and in search of cleaner, equitable growth pathways, Angola’s approach—and the role of agile independent players—will be closely watched.
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