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03 Oct 2024

Petroci Seeks Partnership with Sonangol to Fast-Track Oilfield Development

Petroci Seeks Partnership with Sonangol to Fast-Track Oilfield Development
Petroci – the national oil company (NOC) of Ivory Coast – is looking at forging a collaborative partnership with Angola’s NOC Sonangol to support the development of its oil and gas infrastructure. Speaking during a panel discussion at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Petroci’s Director of Drilling and Production Sekou Soro said that an MoU between the companies is on the cards.

Ivory Coast joined the ranks of African hydrocarbon producers following the start of production at the first phase of the Belaine project in August 2023. Production started just two years after the discovery was made. This was followed by the Calao discovery – the second largest in the country – by Eni in May 2024. With these, the country is looking at rapidly developing its oil and gas industry, with focus placed on associated infrastructure such as refining, logistics and distribution.

“We are looking at signing an MoU with Sonangol, covering the activities of infrastructure so that we are ready to develop these world-class discoveries. Our Ministry has recommended that we work with SONILS so that we gain experience for the development of our industry,” said Soro.

Angola – sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest oil producer – has gained significant experience over the years in developing its oil and gas supply chain. The company has several logistics hubs in the country, including SONILS’ logistics base in Luanda, and is constantly expanding downstream infrastructure to support the development of new concessions. 

According to Soro, “This is why we are present in Angola. The development of these world class discoveries is a challenge and we need to improve our strategic approach to advance these developments. We want to gain insight and knowledge from partners like Sonangol to develop best practices to drive these projects.”

In addition to its exploration and production activities, Sonangol has played an instrumental part in supporting the training of regional engineers. According to Belarmino Chitangueleca, Executive Administrator at Sonangol, “We have trained petroleum engineers from Botswana, Namibia and more. We have the facilities and infrastructure in Angola to train people in the areas [of oil and gas]. It is much easier to send your employees to Angola rather than Houston. In this regard, NOCs can support the needs, in terms of training and knowledge, of other regional NOCs.”

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