Speaking ahead of the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Conference and Exhibition, taking place September 9-10 with a pre-conference day scheduled for September 8, Vini Gupta, President and CEO of Cornerstone Valve, said the company already has an installed base in Angola and is now looking to build a stronger, more direct presence in the country.

“We are looking to expand in the Angola oil and gas offshore market, both topside as well as subsea,” Gupta said.

Established in 1990, Cornerstone Valve specializes in valve technologies for offshore oil and gas operations, particularly high-pressure and high-temperature applications. The company has previously supplied valves for Angola’s offshore market, including for Chevron-operated assets, and is a Tier 1 manufacturer on Chevron’s Approved Manufacturers List.

According to Gupta, Cornerstone’s technology can support applications of up to 15,000 psi, while its subsea equipment has previously been deployed at depths of up to 3,000 meters.

“Where Cornerstone Valve excels, where our technology excels, is in the high-pressure, high-temperature applications,” Gupta said. “The integrity of the product is extremely important. Safety is extremely important, both for the personnel and the infrastructure.”

As the company expands its footprint, establishing an Angolan partnership will form a central part of its market strategy. Cornerstone previously supplied Angola through a U.S. distributor that is no longer active in the country and is now looking for an established local company with experience serving offshore operators.

“We are looking for a local company to represent us, to distribute our product, who is already a player in that market, who knows the offshore market well and who knows the oil majors in Angola,” said Gupta.

Identifying that partner will be one of Cornerstone’s priorities at AOG 2026, where the company is participating as an Associate Sponsor. Gupta will attend the conference to hold discussions with prospective Angolan companies that have relevant technical expertise and experience representing international manufacturers.

“That’s one of the reasons that we are coming to AOG 2026,” Gupta said. “I’m looking to have dialogue with local companies who have the capability to represent Cornerstone Valve in that market.”

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