Angola has commissioned a US $4bn gas processing complex in Soyo, Zaire Province. President João Lourenço officiated the ceremony, marking the country’s first major infrastructure dedicated to producing and processing non-associated gas, signaling a long-awaited shift away from heavy reliance on crude oil.
The facility, developed by the Novo Consórcio de Gás (New Gas Consortium, NGC), was a decisive step toward building a robust standalone natural gas industry. According to Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Diamantino Azevedo, the plant is capable of handling 400 million cubic feet of gas per day, sourced from Angola’s first independent gas fields, namely Quiluma and Maboqueiro in the shallow offshore basin.
READ: Uganda revives Leye Dam
Boost in energy security
The project was delivered several months ahead of schedule, a milestone the minister described as “a turning point in Angola’s energy history.” The New Gas Consortium brings together Azule Energy—Angola’s largest independent operator and a bp-Eni joint venture with Sonangol E&P, Chevron’s Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, and TotalEnergies. The partnership allows Angola to tap substantial offshore gas deposits that previously remained underdeveloped due to the country’s traditional focus on oil-linked associated gas.
With the new Soyo plant now operational, natural gas will be supplied to domestic power producers, industrial users, and the Angola LNG terminal for export. Officials say this new supply chain will strengthen the nation’s energy security while deepening its participation in the global LNG market.
Azevedo noted that natural gas will play a central role in expanding petrochemical production, including plans for ammonia and urea plants to support agriculture. “This infrastructure is only the start,” he said. “We intend to continue unlocking additional gas reserves both offshore and onshore to support industrialization and long-term economic growth.”
Azule Energy CEO Adriano Mongini described the commissioning as a “transformational moment” for Angola, particularly as global energy players are increasingly looking to Africa for stable, long-term gas supplies. The plant’s completion just 24 months after groundbreaking adds momentum to recent gas discoveries, including a major reservoir unveiled earlier this year during Angola’s first exploration efforts targeting standalone gas prospects.
As the country steps up its presence in Africa’s evolving energy landscape, analysts say the Soyo project positions Angola to become a competitive regional supplier at a time when demand for natural gas and LNG continues to rise globally.
