By: Oil and gas Middle east

Angola is positioning natural gas at the centre of its long-term energy and economic strategy, with policymakers and industry leaders increasingly pointing to the country’s accelerating gas agenda as a scalable pathway for addressing energy poverty across Africa.

Through flagship projects such as the New Gas Consortium (NGC), alongside discoveries and supportive regulatory reforms, Angola is seeking to strengthen regional energy security while expanding power generation and industrial capacity using lower-carbon gas resources.

Much like non-associated gas developments in the Middle East, Angola’s New Gas Consortium marks a deliberate shift away from oil-linked supply towards dedicated gas production. For Gulf producers, the project mirrors strategies used to stabilise supply, support power generation and anchor LNG exports.

The country reached a major milestone in November 2025 with the first production from the NGC project, Angola’s first non-associated gas development. The $4 billion project draws gas from the offshore Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields, which are processed at an onshore treatment facility in Soyo. At peak capacity, the project is expected to produce up to 400 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, as well as 20,000 barrels of condensate.

Operated by the New Gas Consortium – led by Azule Energy alongside Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, Sonangol E&P and TotalEnergies – the project was delivered six months ahead of schedule. Its early completion is seen as a boost to Angola’s ability to meet rising domestic and regional demand while reinforcing its role within global gas supply chains.

Unlike Angola’s historic reliance on associated gas from oil production, the NGC marks a shift towards dedicated gas output that is insulated from oil market cycles. Industry observers note that this approach supports supply stability, enables downstream industrial development and provides a cleaner fuel option for power generation and manufacturing.

Integration with the Angola LNG plant provides immediate export capacity, while domestically the project is expected to support gas-fired power generation, fertiliser production and other gas-based industries. The consortium model, which spreads risk and pools technical and financial expertise, is also being highlighted as a replicable framework for other African producers seeking to develop complex gas resources.

Policy reform has played a critical role in unlocking Angola’s gas potential. Although Quiluma and Maboqueiro were discovered decades ago, development only gained momentum following legislative changes aimed at diversifying the hydrocarbons sector and offsetting declining oil output. Key measures include Presidential Decree 1/18, which established a framework for gas development rights, and the Gas Master Plan, outlining a long-term strategy for the full gas value chain.

These reforms were reinforced by a multi-year licensing strategy launched in 2019, opening new acreage to investors. In 2025, Angola announced its first gas discovery in Block 1/14, signalling a shift towards more gas-focused exploration. The National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency is also reprocessing legacy seismic data to de-risk prospects and stimulate future drilling activity.

International engagement is expected to further accelerate development, with African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 set to take place in Cape Town from October 12–16. The event will bring together global operators, investors and policymakers to advance partnerships and channel capital into African energy projects.

“Angola’s gas push is more than an upstream success story – it is a lifeline in the fight against energy poverty,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Projects like the NGC show what is possible when policymakers and industry work together to unlock resources, build infrastructure and put African energy to work for African development.”