TotalEnergies has announced a new offshore oil discovery in Angola and is moving quickly to bring the resource into production, while simultaneously expanding its exploration footprint through new operated interests in additional offshore blocks.
The French energy major confirmed that the Acacia-5 discovery, located in Block 17 offshore Angola, was made in June 2026 and is expected to reach first oil within just three months through a fast-track development strategy. The project will utilize spare processing capacity on the Pazflor floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, enabling the company to accelerate production without the need for major new infrastructure.
Once operational, Acacia-5 is expected to contribute around 6,000 barrels of oil per day to Block 17 output. TotalEnergies operates the block with a 38% stake, alongside Equinor (22.16%), ExxonMobil (19%), Azule Energy (15.84%) and Sonangol E&P (5%). The discovery marks the company’s second successful exploration result in Angola this year. Earlier in 2026, TotalEnergies participated in another oil discovery in Block 0 within the Lower Congo Basin, where it holds a 10% interest. The block is operated by Chevron, which owns 39.2%, while Sonangol E&P holds 41% and Azule Energy 9.8%.
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Long-term commitment
In a further sign of its long-term commitment to Angola’s upstream sector, TotalEnergies has signed agreements with Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) to acquire a 40% operated stake in exploration Blocks 17/25 and 32/21. ExxonMobil will also hold 40% in the two blocks, while Sonangol E&P will retain the remaining 20%.
The newly acquired acreage lies close to TotalEnergies-operated Blocks 17 and 32, where six FPSOs are already in production. The proximity of existing infrastructure is expected to support lower-cost development options through future tie-backs, should commercial discoveries be made. Both blocks also benefit from existing 3D seismic data and contain several prospective geological targets.
The latest agreements build on a broader expansion strategy announced earlier this year. In February, TotalEnergies signed a head of agreement with ANPG and ExxonMobil to farm into exploration Blocks 40, 41, 42 and 58 in the Benguela Basin with a 35% interest. Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, said the latest developments underscore both the attractiveness of Angola’s offshore sector and the company’s confidence in the country’s long-term energy potential. He noted that exploration remains a central pillar of TotalEnergies’ strategy in Angola, supported by government measures designed to encourage investment and unlock new offshore resources.
