As Congo prepares to host the Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2027 in Brazzaville, local content is emerging as a central pillar of the country's investment proposition. Major projects across the oil, gas and LNG sectors are increasingly being linked to workforce development, supplier participation and domestic value creation, signaling a broader effort to transform resource wealth into long-term economic growth.

For investors, local content is becoming an increasingly important part of the operating environment, shaping everything from procurement strategies and workforce development to long-term project execution.

The Regulatory Bedrock: Building a More Predictable Investment Environment

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons – now led by Minister Stev Simplice Onanga – and national oil company SNPC, Congo has moved beyond broad local content ambitions toward a codified and increasingly predictable business environment.

This framework is anchored by the Hydrocarbons Code (Law 28-2016) and a suite of implementation decrees that establish clear requirements around subcontracting, workforce nationalization and local supplier participation. Together, the regulations aim to increase Congolese participation across the energy value chain while providing greater clarity for investors operating in the market.

Complementing these reforms is the country's Gas Code and Gas Master Plan. Formalized fiscal terms are intended to provide long-term visibility for gas commercialization, while the government's strategy targets 1.5 GW of gas-to-power capacity by 2030, linking resource development to broader industrial and economic objectives.

International Operators Are Embedding Local Content Into Projects

The impact of these policies is increasingly visible across the country's largest energy developments.

TotalEnergies' Moho Nord project represents one of Congo's strongest examples of structured local integration. By breaking large engineering contracts into smaller packages, the company has enabled hundreds of Congolese suppliers to participate in its supply chain. The operator has also invested heavily in workforce development, delivering approximately 600,000 hours of technical training and integrating more than 600 local companies into its operations.

Eni has adopted a similarly long-term approach through its Congo LNG project, training Congolese engineers in advanced LNG technologies and supporting technical education pathways through institutions such as the Centre d'Appui Technique et des Ressources Professionnelles. Gas from Eni's offshore operations also supplies the Centrale Électrique du Congo, which generates approximately 70% of the country's electricity, illustrating how upstream investment is increasingly supporting domestic infrastructure and energy security.

Domestic Companies Are Moving Up the Value Chain

Congo's local content framework is also helping strengthen the domestic private sector. Certification requirements tied to ownership structures, management representation and technical capability have encouraged local firms to invest in training, equipment upgrades and strategic partnerships with international service providers.

Local operators such as Ammat Global Resources demonstrate the growing sophistication of Congolese energy companies. Through the modernization of mature offshore assets and expanded technical capabilities, local firms are increasingly moving beyond support services to play a more active role in field operations, asset optimization and production growth.

The SNPC remains central to this strategy through its participation in production-sharing agreements and its role in aligning foreign investment with national development priorities.

CEIF 2027 to Showcase Congo’s Next Phase of Growth

CEIF 2027 comes as Congo advances several major energy developments, from the expansion of Congo LNG and new offshore discoveries to continued investment in mature producing assets. As these projects move forward, attention is increasingly turning to how investment can support broader industrial development, local participation and long-term economic value creation.

Bringing together government leaders, investors and industry stakeholders, CEIF 2027 will provide a platform to explore how stronger partnerships between international capital and domestic capability can accelerate the next chapter of Congo's energy development.