Luanda – President João Lourenço on Wednesday in Luanda said the country’s Natural Gas Master Plan, which will define the basis for leveraging the potential of this resource over a period of thirty years, has reached its final stage.
According to the President, who was speaking at the 5th Oil and Gas Exhibition Conference, the plan will guarantee the creation of jobs and the generation of revenue for the state and contribute to the country's social and economic development.
The president said that he believes in hydrocarbon-producing countries, which have the right to develop their resources, for the good of their people and nations, as long as they take appropriate measures to minimize harmful effects on the environment and climate.
“We know that the actions of the oil sector must promote the sustainable exploitation of fossil energy resources and use part of its efforts and technical capacity to gradually foster and strengthen the emergence of an industry of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind power, the green hydrogen and others”, Lourenço said.
João Lourenço recalled that those involved in oil and gas exploration and production activities have been instructed to adopt measures to mitigate and compensate for the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.
The president highlighted the importance of the elimination or reduction of gas burning, the adoption of less polluting technologies and operational equipment, the protection and conservation of flora and fauna, as well as the execution of programs for the creation of forests or the reforestation.
João Lourenço said the state oil company Sonangol under partnerships with international oil companies such as ENI and Total Energies, built a photovoltaic plant in Caraculo, southern Namibe province and is developing a similar project in Quilemba, Huíla, which will contribute for clean energy in the national energy matrix for the benefit of the populations in these locations.
The Head of State added that the Sonangol EP forged a partnership with German companies to develop a green hydrogen production project that will contribute to the diversification and sustainability of the business portfolio and promote the country's social and economic development in terms of renewable energy.
The president highlighted the Law on Local Content of the Petroleum Sector, as a legal instrument that aims to recruit, integrate and train Angolan staff and the integration of national companies for the provision of services and supplies of nationally produced goods in the oil sector.
According to the Head of State, the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas and the National Agency of Oil, Gas and Biofuels have the responsibility to supervise and guarantee the implementation of this legal tool.
“However, we will only have the desired success if all investors and local content companies participate harmoniously in its implementation”, the president said.
The conference taking place under the theme, "Driving Exploration and Development to Increase Production in Angola", is the main event for the oil and gas industry of the country and presents a variety of opportunities for companies to sign agreements, as well as to promote collaboration and boost projects in Angola and across the entire region.
AFL/ART/MRA/AMP
