The announcement was made during a technical session at this year’s Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2024 conference in Luanda on October 3. Sponsored by SONILS, the technical track, titled Driving Efficiency in Transport and Logistics.

“Much of our operations take place around Angola’s ports,” stated SONILS Commercial General Manager Joaquim Chipuco, adding, “Today, we have projects that we are supporting and have strengthened our relationships with our clients to improve oil production in the country.”

As the operator of an onshore supply base near the capital city of Luanda, SONILS supports up to 65% of the country’s daily oil production. This infrastructure is a significant advantage for exports and any future onshore projects in the country.

Meanwhile, with Mozambique expected to become a major LNG exporter in the next decade, the panel explored the value regional collaboration across the logistics industry can play in southern Africa. During the panel, Mozambican procurement and logistics company Nweba highlighted its dedication to the development of the regional oil, gas, mining and energy sectors and the role it has to play in supporting Mozambique’s energy developments.

“At the level of offshore, we have some experience,” Nweba CEO Eugénia Langa stated, adding, “But we are still relying on the experience of neighboring countries like Angola. [In the future] we are going to define our strategies to make partnerships strategically with companies already operating in this area to guarantee we have international certification in the sector.”

The panel also examined the impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to create the largest free trade area in the world. AfCFTA aims to to reduce tariffs among member countries while reshaping the African market and regional economies, providing opportunities through which African-owned companies may enter new markets, expand their customer base and the continent’s investment gap.

“The benefits from the African Free Continental Trade Area are numerous,” stated global logistics and international shipping company DHL Head of Industrial Projects & Customs Affairs Alissa Mangy, adding, “We have some very obvious ones such as the opening of the market from some countries in the region while breaking down restriction for tariff and non-tariff barriers of entry.”

In the wake of frontier oil and gas development, Angola is positioned to benefit from intercontinental integration, serving as a potential logistics and infrastructure hub for regional exporters.

“We in Africa need to improve intercontinental integration,” stated energy company AGL Country Manager Jean Yves-Lunot, adding, “We need to push more in Angola. This country has immense potential and is part of a new wave of frontier development. We have to be very efficient with regards to the quality of our services, especially in the oil and gas industry.”

In line with Angola’s commitment to human development and capacity building, the panel also noted the sector’s dedication to safety and efficiency in the oil and gas space. As such, Angolan logistics and supply chain management company Cabship explained its dedication to advancing digitalization, diversification and optimized service delivery with the aim of strengthening the logistics value chain in Angola.

“We aim to create a culture of safety and efficiency across the organization,” stated Cabship General Manager Luis Da Silva, adding, “We are at the forefront of these standards in Angola.