This milestone reflects the shared commitment of the ANPG and the Block 20/11 Contractor Group – TotalEnergies (operator) PETRONAS Angola E&P Limited and Sonangol E&P – whose invaluable collaboration continues to drive the project forward.

In its final configuration, the Kaminho FPSO - TotalEnergies’ seventh in Angola - will have a storage capacity of approximately 1.8 million barrels, equivalent to around 25 days of production at maximum capacity.

The start of the final Dry Dock comes at a particularly significant time for Kaminho, as it reached 50% of overall project execution recently, with activities taking place simultaneously in Angola, China, Malaysia and other countries. The project represents a total investment of approximately $6 billion, with first oil expected in 2028. At plateau, the FPSO is expected to produce approximately 70,000 bpd.

Located in Block 20/11, in the Kwanza Basin, approximately 100 kilometres off the Angolan coast, Kaminho represents the first major deepwater oil development in this new hydrocarbon basin and comprises the development of the Cameia (phase 1) and Golfinho (phase 2) fields.

A Key Milestone in the FPSO Conversion

The latest milestone marks an important step in the FPSO’s conversion ahead of its arrival in Angola. Over the coming weeks, extensive work will be carried out that can only be performed with the hull out of the water. This stage will allow the vessel to be adapted to its operational configuration and prepared for the future integration of the topside modules.

Saipem and CMHI teams are working in close collaboration with the project teams and contractors involved in this stage. They will install the new living quarters facilities, support structures for the future topside modules, the helideck and the offloading system. The works also include the installation of 80-meter-long riser protection structures, manufactured in Angola by Petromar, as well as boat landing structures that will enable offshore personnel to be transported by crew boats (surfers). These activities are essential to advancing the final stage of the tanker conversion process.

One of the next major milestones for the project will be the Heavy-Lifting campaign, scheduled for later this year. During this phase, all topside modules will be installed and integrated onto the FPSO deck, progressively transforming the vessel into its final configuration.

These modules, also known as topsides, will house the different equipment required for the operation of the future production unit. The FPSO will feature electrically powered surface equipment and a centralised power generation system using gas turbines, with an installed capacity of approximately 105 megawatts. This configuration has been designed to optimise the operation of pumps, gas compressors and other equipment used for the treatment, separation and offloading of hydrocarbons.

The project therefore incorporates solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing emissions intensity. These include the reinjection of produced gas allowing zero routine flaring, waste heat recovery systems, high pressure gas compressors sparing, native CO2 capture and the electrification of surface equipment. These technical solutions are expected to help avoid approximately 8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the FPSO’s expected 20-year operational life, equivalent to taking around 1.7 million cars off the road for one year.

From Dry Dock to Offshore Operations

Beyond its technical importance, this operation marks the project’s FPSO entry into its final construction phase, ahead of commissioning and start-up testing. The successful completion of this milestone is the result of several months of preparation, close coordination between the TotalEnergies, Saipem and CMHI teams, contractors and marine operators, as well as an unwavering focus on safety.

This coordination reflects the technical complexity of a project that combines FPSO conversion, custom-made subsea systems development by OneSubsea, component fabrication across different geographies and preparation for future deepwater operations in the Kwanza Basin.

The involvement of Angolan company Petromar in the current phase connects the conversion work being carried out in China with activities taking place in Angola. The project also involves Sonamet (Lobito), Sonils (Luanda) and Oceaneering (Viana) with activities covering structural fabrication, equipment preparation, logistics and support for subsea systems and the future installation of the FPSO. Over its 20-year operational life, Kaminho is expected to generate more than 40 million work hours, of which more than 10 million will be generated in country, including fabrication, subsea installation, mooring, hook-up, FPSO commissioning and offshore operations.

The departure of the FPSO to Angola in 2027 will mark the beginning of a new phase of the project, ending the offshore installation, the drilling campaign and integration of the unit with the subsea systems for Cameia and Golfinho fields, paving the way for the start of production a few months later.

More than 70 years after first establishing its presence in Angola, precisely in the onshore of this basin, TotalEnergies is now returning this time offshore with the first major deepwater development in what is emerging as a new hydrocarbon province for the country.