Congo (Brazzaville) oil minister Bruno Itoua confirmed today the Opec producer's plan to almost double crude production to 500,000 b/d by 2030. "We are going from 268,000 b/d to 500,000 b/d in five years," Itoua told the African Energy Week conference in Cape Town.
International operators with significant investments in the country's offshore include TotalEnergies and Anglo-French independent Perenco. Total operates seven fields and holds interests in several other offshore assets, producing 61,000 b/d of liquids in 2024 from the country. Perenco's most recent figures showed that it produced 72,500 b/d of oil equivalent in July.
Last month, Itoua said the country's government is targeting a 7pc-plus increase in crude production, which would bring its output above 275,000 b/d. The government is also preparing to approve 10 upstream projects, including PSC renewals for Perenco's Ikalou II and Likoula II licences. Itoua has previously suggested the country will soon launch a new licensing round as well.
Besides Total and Perenco, other international operators in Congo include Africa-focused Trident Energy, which bought out Chevron's interests in the country in January. The independent now has 85pc working interests in the Nkossa and Nsoko II fields, and a 15.75pc interest in the Lianzi field, becoming operator of those assets. It also acquired a 21.5pc interest in the Moho-Bilondo field, which is operated by Total.
Qatar Energy is also partnered with Total and state-owned SNPC on the Nzombo offshore exploration block.
