Angola produced an average of 1.091 million barrels of oil per day in September 2022, a decline of 83.000 barrels compared to the August output. The September level is also roughly 5% below the 2022 average (1.147 million) that had been estimated by the Angolan petroleum regulator (ANPG) earlier in the year. Despite the lower output, Angola remains the biggest oil producer in Africa ahead of Libya and Nigeria. Africa’s top producer spot was conquered by Angola in May 2022 after overtaking Nigeria.

As regards oil exports, the daily average for the months of July and August was 1.092 m/b. Sonangol is the largest exporter by a wide margin, as it is responsible for about 42% of all exports. Of the total oil exported by Sonangol, some 70% constitutes the so-called “Concessionaire Oil” (oil share taken by ANPG on behalf of the state) and 30% is Sonangol’s “equity oil” (its own production as operator and investor). Angola’s oil exports have remained steady throughout the year.

The list of exports by oil company in July/August 2022 is as follows:

• Sonangol – 462.572 b/d monthly average
• TotalEnergies – 127.432
• ExxonMobil – 95,957
• ENI – 92,158
• Sinopec – 90,476
• BP – 63,700
• Equinor – 61,508
• Chevon – 60,171
• All others – 38,464

Of note is that two of the above companies (Sinopec and Equinor) are not operators, so all of their exports derive from their non-operator interests in several blocks operated by other companies.

As regards production, TotalEnergies remains the largest producer by far. Some 34% of all oil produced in Angola is originated in blocks operated by TotalEnergies. 

Law 18/2022, of 25 August 2022, has implemented the Mobility Agreement between the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). The regulations of this law have now been adopted (through Regulation-Decree 4/2022, of 30 September 2022) and will come into force at the end of October.

Under the regulation, the procedure for applying for CPLP visas has been streamlined. CPLP nationals who wish to apply for temporary or residence visas no longer need to submit the (previously required) following documents:

• Proof of insurance covering medical expenditures and possible repatriation;
• Proof of “means of subsistence”; and
• Copy of return ticket (except for resident visa applications).

The following visa applications must be automatically approved under the new regime: (i) temporary stay visa, (ii) work visa, and (iii) residence visa. However, this is not applicable to individuals who are reported in the Schengen Information System for visa denial or repatriation. Diplomatic missions must immediately inform the Immigration Service (SEF) of issued visas.

The holder of a “CPLP residence visa” is entitled to subsequently obtain a “residence authorization”, unless this would pose a security or health threat.

These lighter procedures reflect a new approach of Public Entities in their relationship with immigrants. The ultimate objective is to foster a more regulated and integrated immigration.

For more information, please contact us!

 Carla Mascarenhas, lawyer.

Follow OneLegal social media for legal updates on Portugal, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique and Timor-Leste.

Angolan national oil company Sonangol has taken the helm of the Forum of the African National Oil Companies within the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO). The appointment took place last week in Luanda during a meeting of the CEOs of the African NOCs.
 
A central topic of last week’s meeting was the urgency of Africa chartering its own course in terms of energy transition and developing independent sources of financing for oil and gas projects in the continent. Western nations and banks have been significantly scaling down funding for hydrocarbon exploration in Africa and across the world and this poses an existential challenge to the long term survival of Africa’s oil industry. Against this threat, the NOC CEOs reaffirmed their commitment to support the establishment of a Pan-African bank (designated as “Africa Energy Transition Bank”) dedicated to provide critical financing for oil and gas projects in Africa. The new bank is to be set up as a joint effort of APPO and the African Export Bank (Afreximbank), and the African NOCs, including Sonangol, are expected to contribute financially to this initiative in terms to be decided.
 
This is a critical time for Africa’s oil and gas industry and the stakes could not be higher for Sonangol’s leadership of the NOC Forum.

The first step towards the signing of this agreement took place last July when a group of managers of the Algarve Tourism Region visited Cape Verde to discuss with the local authorities strategies for the recruitment of Cape Verde workers. This was done in the context of a “labor migration project” intended to meet Portugal’s needs to hire additional labor to the tourism and agricultural sectors in particular.
 
Despite the concerns expressed by some players of the Cape Verde tourism sector that this program could result in an exodus of qualified local workforce, the Prime Minister of Cape Verde announced that his government and the Portuguese government are working on an agreement which will afford employment contracts, social security and medical assistance to the Cape Verde citizens who wish to come to Portugal to work.

According to the Cape Verde Prime Minister, it is expected the agreement will be concluded shortly. Cape Verde immigration to Portugal started in the 18th century and the governments of the two countries are committed to ensuring such migration is done is a regulated manner and offering adequate protection to the workers involved.
 
This project involves various other Portuguese entities, including the Immigration Office (SEF), the Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP), the Algarve Hotel Association (AHETA), the Algarve Hotel Industry Owners Association (AIHSA), the Odemira and Aljezur Hosticulturists, Flower Growers and Fruit Growers Association (AHSA) , and several agricultural companies.

Following Council of Ministers sessions on 27 July and 21 September 2022, it was announced the approval of a Decree-Law which establishes the legal regime for a “Public-Private Partnership for Diagnostic Services”. The bill had been jointly introduced by the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto, and the Minister of Health, Odete Belo.

The objective of the Decree-Law is to (quote) “ (…) create a legal regime specifically applicable to a PPP contract for laboratory and imaging diagnostic services, which allows for the flexible participation of a private partner in the provision of public services, and includes mechanisms on risk allocation, sustainability, operationality and quality of services.” . It is expected the new legal framework will attract private investment in the health sector with a view to improving the quality of diagnostic services.

This opens a window of opportunity for health care providers to come to Timor-Leste and bring much needed know-how and technology. We will keep you posted on future developments on this new legislation and potentially other legal initiatives in the health sector.

Angola is meticulously implementing its strategy of attracting new companies to its oil sector and is using the licensing of new blocks in unexplored areas to pursue this goal. Last August a total of 7 new companies (which hitherto had no activity in Angola’s E&P landscape) signed contracts for the exploration of onshore oil blocks in the basins of the Congo and Kwanza rivers. These comprise a mix of international independent companies and local companies, of which 3 will become operators. The Angolan concessionaire and regulator ANPG signed contracts with newcomers MTI Energy, Mineral One, Alfort Petroleum, Intank Oil, Brite’s Oil & Gas, Monka Oil, Omega Risk Solutions and Upite Oil Company, together with other companies with an established presence in Angola’s oil sector. The number of companies with Angolan E&P assets has now surpassed 30.

Angola’s oil output is currently hovering above 1.1 million barrels per day, which puts it neck to neck with Nigeria as the largest producer in sub-Shaharan Africa. The government is hoping successful exploration and development of the new blocks will increase this output.