New book examines Angola’s oil reforms and regional impact

A new book by African Energy Chamber Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk looks at how Angola’s oil and gas reforms are reshaping investment, production and downstream development. The analysis ties those changes to broader lessons for resource-rich African markets as Angola pushes gas, refining and regulatory overhaul.

Why it matters: - Angola’s reforms are designed to reverse years of oil-sector decline, attract capital and stabilize output. - The book argues the country’s changes could serve as a template for other resource-producing markets in Africa. - Angola still produces more than 1 million barrels per day of crude oil but imports a significant share of refined fuels, making downstream reform a practical economic issue.

What happened: - NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, published Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola. - The book examines policy changes, institutional restructuring and government leadership under President João Lourenço and Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Diamantino Azevedo. - The release was issued from Johannesburg on July 16, 2026.

The details: - Angola created the ANPG as the upstream regulator and restructured Sonangol to focus on commercial operations. - The ANPG took over licensing and upstream regulation. - Sonangol expanded its operating portfolio and prepared for a potential future public offering. - The ANPG launched a multi-year licensing strategy targeting 60 concessions, with 40 awarded so far. - Angola introduced the Permanent Offer Regime in 2021, allowing concessions to be negotiated outside traditional licensing rounds. - From 2021 to 2023, 27 blocks were awarded through the Permanent Offer Regime. - The government also introduced policies aimed at marginal fields and incremental production to support mature assets and smaller developments. - The Incremental Production Decree, introduced in 2024, is intended to drive reinvestment in mature fields. - The book says the decree could help recover up to 500 million additional barrels and extend mature asset life by as much as 20 years. - ExxonMobil made the first discovery under the decree in 2024 at the Likember-01 well in Block 15. - Angola has an estimated 11 trillion cubic feet of gas resources. - The Gas Monetization Law in 2018 and the Gas Master Plan in 2025 are highlighted as key policy tools for gas development. - Angola LNG has operated since 2013. - The New Gas Consortium brought Angola’s first non-associated gas project online in 2026. - Azule Energy announced the country’s first dedicated gas discovery in Block 1/14. - The government established the Instituto Regulador dos Derivados do Petróleo, or IRDP, to strengthen downstream oversight. - Angola plans to expand refining capacity beyond the Luanda refinery. - The Cabinda refinery began operating in 2025. - Additional refining projects are planned for Lobito and Soyo. - The book is available in paperback and digital formats through major online retailers, including Amazon. - Ayuk said the reforms show how institutional change, investment policy and regulation can shape long-term industry development.

Between the lines: - Angola’s approach combines upstream licensing reform, commercial restructuring and downstream investment, rather than treating the oil sector as a single policy problem. - The gas push suggests Angola is trying to diversify revenue streams while improving domestic energy supply and export optionality. - The reform package also signals a broader effort to make mature fields and smaller discoveries more investable, not just large frontier projects.

What’s next: - Angola’s next phase will likely depend on whether the new licensing, gas and refining policies keep attracting investment. - The planned refinery buildout in Lobito and Soyo will test how quickly the country can reduce product imports and add value at home. - The book frames continued sector reform as central to Angola’s long-term production and diversification goals.