Angola calls for onshore licence bids

In its first licensing round since 2011, the nation is calling for bids on 10 blocks by 18 September

Angola is calling for bids by 18 September for 10 onshore blocks, offered in its first licensing round since 2011. State company Sonangol says the blocks, in the Lower Congo and Kwanza basins, have been shown to hold working petroleum systems and have pre-salt potential. Sonangol said 37 companies have been pre-qualified to apply in the round as operators, although many are little-known entities with no operating experience – apparently in contradiction of Angola’s requirements, which call for operators to have “competence and experience in the management and performance of petroleum operations.” Sonangol has also pre-qualified 48 companies as licence participants, most of them little-known.