The 2025 Bid Round aligns with broader national goals to mitigate natural production declines and stimulate further exploration offshore. Congo’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, emphasized that the round would offer exploration and production opportunities, showcasing the country’s substantial reserves to potential investors. In addition to boosting output, the government's goal is to develop the domestic gas industry, positioning the country as a significant player in the regional energy market.

Assessing the Attractiveness of Congo's Hydrocarbon Sector

The Republic of Congo has long-relied on oil and gas licensing rounds to attract foreign investment into its hydrocarbon sector. Notably, in 2018, the country launched its last bid round offering 18 onshore and offshore blocks in the Cuvette and Coastal basins, aiming to boost exploration and production activities. Following the 2018 licensing round, Congolese companies ARDP-Oil and PEPA discovered the onshore Delta de la Cuvette field. This deposit spans 9,392 m2 and has the potential to produce up to one billion m3 of hydrocarbons, including 359 million barrels of oil, equating to approximately 983,000 bpd. Currently in the exploration phase, this field could potentially quadruple the nation's oil production.

Additionally, during the 2018 licensing round, oil major Eni acquired the Marine XXXI block, adjacent to its Marine XII project, which it had secured in 2014. In the Marine XII block, Eni discovered approximately one billion barrels of oil equivalent. Pioneering Congo's gas monetization strategy, Eni developed the Congo LNG project, exporting its first LNG cargo in February 2024. The company plans to increase total liquefaction capacity to 3 million tons per year by the end of 2025 with the start of the second phase. These discoveries and projects not only highlight the potential for high-impact discoveries in the Republic of Congo but underscore the strategic role licensing rounds have played in unlocking fresh capital and innovation.

What to Expect from the 2025 Licensing Round

The Republic of Congo's upcoming licensing round is poised to invigorate the oil and gas industry by stimulating exploration and production activities. While the specific blocks to be offered in the 2025 licensing round have not yet been disclosed, the government's strategy includes offering a diverse selection of both deepwater and marginal fields. This approach is designed to attract international oil companies (IOCs) with the technical expertise and financial capacity to develop deepwater resources, as well as local and independent companies better suited to exploit marginal fields – specifically those typically considered to be too small for IOCs. 

By inviting bids for these varied assets, the licensing round is expected to bring substantial foreign investment into Congo's hydrocarbon sector. The anticipated increase in hydrocarbon production is projected to generate additional revenue streams, contributing to the country's socio-economic development and efforts to alleviate poverty.

The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum - scheduled for March 25-26, 2025, in Brazzaville - will bring together IOCs and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy opportunities. The forum will provide updates on ongoing expansions and discuss the upcoming licensing round, serving as a platform to showcase Congo’s advancements in the energy sector.

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.