Ammat Global Resources promotes Congolese-led operations as model for stronger upstream performance

Ammat Global Resources, an independent hydrocarbon producer based in the Republic of Congo (RoC), has created a competitive operating model, showing that localisation can strengthen upstream performance while supporting ESG goals.

According to the African Energy Chamber (AEC), Ammat, which is a subsidiary of Italy’s private energy firm Ludoil, has 80–85% of its workforce, including executive leadership, engineering and asset management, composed of Congolese nationals.

“From its operational headquarters in Pointe-Noire to its offshore production assets across the Loango and Zatchi fields, Ammat’s organisational architecture reflects a deliberate shift away from expatriate-heavy operational control toward domestic technical ownership,” the AEC said in a media statement. “In practical terms, this means Congolese petroleum engineers, reservoir specialists and asset managers are not only involved in field operations, but leading them.”

The approach differs from the traditional model used in many African offshore projects, where foreign technical specialists have often dominated management and operational decision-making. According to the Chamber, Ammat is instead placing Congolese professionals in key technical and leadership roles across its operations.

The company says this structure has helped reduce dependence on international staff, lower expatriate-related costs and speed up operational decisions involving drilling, maintenance and production planning. These efficiencies are particularly important for mature offshore assets, where maintaining production often depends on faster execution and tighter operational control rather than major new investment.

Ammat’s localised structure has also strengthened its relationship with Congolese regulators and authorities by placing decision-makers closer to the country’s institutional and regulatory environment. According to the AEC, this can help create a more stable operating environment and reduce tensions sometimes associated with foreign-led operations.

The Chamber argues that local content policies in Africa should go beyond employment targets and instead focus on building long-term technical and industrial capacity within host countries.

“Local content is about transferring real control, real expertise and real value creation to African professionals,” says AEC executive chairman NJ Ayuk. “What Ammat Global Resources is demonstrating in Congo is that when nationals are trusted with full operational responsibility, the result is not just compliance, but stronger assets, better decision-making, and long-term sustainability. This is the future of African energy.”

The model also supports ESG objectives by improving skills development, long-term employment and local accountability, while allowing operational teams to respond more quickly to maintenance and environmental risks. According to the Chamber, Ammat’s approach shows how localisation can support both commercial performance and long-term sector stability in Congo’s upstream industry.

As earlier reported by NewsBase, Ammat is pursuing a major growth programme aimed at increasing oil and gas production by 70% over the next five years. The plan focuses on the offshore Loango and Zatchi fields, where the company has been upgrading infrastructure, reactivating wells and replacing ageing equipment to improve output.

The company is also investing in gas utilisation projects to support power generation in the RoC, which aims to increase capacity to 1,500 MW by 2030. Ammat’s strategy aligns with the country’s wider Gas Master Plan, centred on infrastructure expansion and optimal exploitation of RoC’s 10 trillion cubic feet, equivalent to approximately 283bn cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas reserves.