Against this backdrop, the Congolese government has introduced a suite of regulatory reforms aimed at revitalizing the energy sector, with a focus on hydrocarbons and electricity.

Gas Monetization Drive

Congo’s National Oil Company Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC) will launch a Gas Master Plan in March this year, with aims to advance the country’s gas monetization agenda by catalyzing new infrastructure development, including gas pipelines, processing facilities and gas-to-power plants. The plan also seeks to reduce energy imports and raise electricity access, which currently stands at 50%.

Meanwhile, a Gas Code, expected in 2025, will provide a clear legislative framework for gas monetization, fiscal terms and resource management. The draft was presented to gas companies in late 2023 and is set for final approval in the coming months. These initiatives are designed to create a robust framework for investors, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and achievement of the country’s industrial goals.

Congo’s Hydrocarbons Code – which was enacted in 2016 – has served to modernize the legal framework for oil and gas activities in the country. The law reaffirms state ownership of hydrocarbons resources and establishes a competitive bidding process for exploration and exploitation rights, with a view to increasing transparency and attracting foreign investment.

Towards Increased Production

With the ambitious goal of doubling oil production in the next two years, Congo aims to attract investment in both marginal and deepwater blocks. The upcoming licensing round, which will be launched at the inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum this March in Brazzaville, is expected to usher in a new wave of investment in sub-Saharan Africa’s fourth-largest oil producing market.

The procedure for granting oil permits in Congo are governed by Decree no. 2008-15, with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons responsible for the regulation of oil and gas activity in the country. In the oil and gas sector, any private company – whether local or foreign – that meets the Ministry’s requirements for financial and technical capacity can become a licensee.

This capacity is assessed based on the company’s experience in oil and gas activities, its financial statements from the last three years and the extent of its proposed minimum work program. The Ministry’s approval is essential to finalize the licensing process, and these measures are designed to ensure that only qualified companies with the necessary expertise and resources are allowed to engage in the exploration, research, exploitation and transportation of hydrocarbons.

All activities must be conducted under a production sharing agreement with the government. Furthermore, the hydrocarbons sector in Congo is subject to several taxes, including a 35% corporate tax, a 15% proportional mining royalty on liquid hydrocarbons and a land tax. These frameworks are designed to ensure responsible resource management and attract investment while boosting local capacity building in the country’s energy infrastructure and oil production sectors.

The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and 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.