Amid this exploration drive, the Congo Energy & Investment Forum - taking in Brazzaville on March 25-26, 2025 - will highlight available blocks across the Republic of Congo. As the country’s premier energy event, the forum will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to discuss investment prospects, foster partnerships and sign deals. CEIF 2025 serves as a strategic opportunity for companies to gain access to Congolese blocks.

The inaugural Congo Economic and Investment Forum, set for March 26-27, 2025 in Brazzaville, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

Assessing Congo’s Farm-In Opportunities

As sub-Saharan Africa’s fourth-largest oil producer, the Republic of Congo is a proven province with significant growth potential. The Lower Congo Basin is a prime region for farm-in opportunities, with oil major Eni offering stakes in the Likouala SA and Yanga-Sendji licenses. The Likouala SA block, containing the Likouala Marine and Likouala East Marine fields, is valued between $25 million and $50 million. The Likouala Marine field peaked at approximately 26,800 bpd in 2014, recovering about 64.94% of its total reserves, and is projected to produce until 2053, currently contributing around 6% of the country's daily oil output.

The Yanga-Sendji block is also open for farm-in opportunities, with energy major TotalEnergies holding a 65% stake and Eni holding the remaining 35%. The block includes the Sendji field, which has a production capacity of approximately 6,000 bpd. Prospective partners will benefit from Eni's established infrastructure and operational expertise in the region.

Additionally, independent oil producer NewAge is inviting partners to farm into its Marine III contract, which includes Marine III A and Marine III B blocks, covering approximately 100 km2 of shallow-water acreage in the Lower Congo Basin. The company is offering up to a 50% interest in the contract in exchange for a promoted share of the well costs for the KFM-1 exploration well.

Finally, in the Cuvette Centrale Basin, South African group Divine Inspiration seeks partners for its onshore Mopongo license. This undrilled block likely requires preliminary airborne gravity and magnetic surveys before advancing to 2D seismic studies or drilling operations.

Acreage Available Through Direct Negotiation

The Congolese government, through its national oil company, the Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), is actively seeking partners to develop several promising oil and gas blocks. The country employs a dual licensing strategy, combining direct negotiations with bid rounds. Historically, direct negotiations have been the most common approach, allowing companies to engage directly with the government to secure access to open blocks.

Several blocks across various basins are currently available. Some of these blocks were originally offered during Phase 2 of the 2018 bid round but remain available for direct negotiations. In the Coastal Basin Offshore, shallow water blocks include Haute Mer B, Marine III A, Marine III B, Marine XXV, Marine XXVI, Marine XXIX and Youbi. These assets are located near Perenco’s producing Yombo block. In the Deep and Ultra-Deep Water, available blocks include Marine XIX, Marine XXI, Marine XXII, Marine XXIII, and Marine XXX blocks, all of which are situated in close proximity to TotalEnergies' deepwater fields, including Marine XX. These blocks were previously mapped and drilled by former owners and benefit from their proximity to existing offshore infrastructure.

Additionally, several onshore opportunities present potential for hydrocarbon exploration and development. In the onshore Coastal Basin, available blocks include Conkouati, Nanga III and Niambi, while in the Cuvette Basin, concessions include Koba, Mbesse, Mboloko, Mboto, and Ntsinga. The Republic of Congo has seen significant success onshore with projects such as Chinese firm Wing Wah’s Bango Kayo development.

CEIF 2025 will showcase the Republic of Congo’s available blocks, offering interested firms the chance to capitalize on both farm-in and direct negotiation opportunities. For more information about CEIF 2025 and to secure your participation, visit https://congoenergyinvestment.com/.