World

ExxonMobil Commits Fresh Investment to Extend Block 15 Operations in Angola Through 2037

By Luca La Cava

ExxonMobil is undertaking a new phase of investment and drilling activity aimed at extending the productive life of Block 15, its long-running deepwater asset offshore Angola, according to Brian Unietis, Lead Country Manager of ExxonMobil Angola. In an interview with The Energy Year, Unietis outlined the company's development plans, Angola's improving investment climate, and its ongoing local content initiatives.

ExxonMobil has operated Block 15 for more than 32 years and holds interests in multiple deepwater blocks offshore Angola. The company recently secured an extension of its Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for Block 15 through 2037, backed by approximately USD 3 billion in new investment commitments. This extension provides a framework for redevelopment work, new drilling, and facility life-extension projects.

According to Unietis, these investments are intended to maximize value from existing resources and support Angola's national goal of sustaining oil production at roughly 1.1 million barrels per day (bopd) through 2030 and beyond. Block 15 currently spans a wide range of activities across the oil and gas lifecycle, including exploratory drilling at the Vicango East prospect, a 4D seismic survey covering the entire block to identify future opportunities, preparation for the Likembe subsea tieback project, and life-extension work at the Saxi and Mondo facilities.

ExxonMobil reached a Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Kizomba C facilities project in 2025 and is working toward FID for the Kizomba A and B facilities by the end of 2026. Unietis said these efforts reflect the company's commitment to sustaining long-term production and infrastructure investment on Block 15, describing the current activity level as indicative of significant opportunities ahead for ExxonMobil in Angola.

On the broader investment climate, Unietis noted that Angola has made progress in strengthening the competitiveness of its upstream oil and gas sector, citing improvements in transparency, streamlined licensing procedures, and more competitive fiscal terms. This aligns with the ambition of Angola's national oil, gas and biofuels agency, ANPG, to attract between USD 60 billion and USD 100 billion in upstream investment in coming years.

He added that sustained investment will depend on continued regulatory stability, competitive fiscal terms, and efficient project execution, noting that global capital tends to favor markets offering consistency and predictability. Unietis said these improvements have strengthened ExxonMobil's confidence in long-term planning and credited ongoing engagement with Angola's Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas (MIREMPET) and ANPG for supporting collaborative project development, including continuous drilling campaigns and facility life-extension initiatives at Block 15.

Regarding community engagement, Unietis said ExxonMobil's local content strategy centers on workforce development, technical training, and leadership opportunities designed to help Angolans and local businesses participate in the country's energy sector. Over the past three decades, the company has invested more than USD 100 million in social projects across Angola supporting education, skills training and community welfare.

Among these initiatives are the ExxonMobil Jr. NBA program, which includes a STEM component, and the STEM Africa program, both aimed at encouraging youth interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The company's Eco-Youth vocational training program has provided practical skills and entrepreneurship training to more than 600 girls and young women in Benguela and Luanda provinces.

Reflecting on more than 32 years of operations and over 2.7 billion barrels produced from Block 15, Unietis said ExxonMobil's long-term priorities in Angola are built around three pillars: People, Energy and Future. People refers to investment in local talent and partnerships with government, industry and communities. Energy reflects the company's focus on safely and reliably developing Angola's resources, maximizing recovery from existing assets, and pursuing exploration opportunities. Future represents the company's commitment to extending asset life and supporting Angola's competitiveness through continuous improvement.

Unietis said these priorities are intended to reinforce ExxonMobil's role as a long-term partner in Angola's economic development, contributing to energy security and future opportunities in the country.